LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Skelf,6~ 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



INTRODUCTION. 

While in the array, I kepi a diary of ray wanderings, obser- 
vations and adventures. It was kepi in the form of letteis sent 
home, and with notes and memoranda in pockel diaries. 11 was 

simply incident and anecdote of what came under my observation, 
and with what I had to do; and from those letters and memoran- 
da, I have compiled this hook. 

I had two objects in view in compiling it. The first was, 
I desired to show to my posterity the heroism, sacrifices, priva- 
tions and hardships of their illustrious ancestor; to transmit to 
them a country and a name, and the government of our fathers 
unimpaired. The other was, that getting a little past the age for 
labor, and as people have fussy notions in regard to foraging, 
something had to he done to recruit my commissariat, hence I 
write a hook: and to all the old comrades, and to all purchasers of 
this hook, who thereby help to smooth the cares and wrinkles of 
my declining years, this little volume is respectfully dedicated 

By the Author, 

1), L. Day. 
Milford, Ma-., February, 1ss4. 

3 



CHAPTER T. 

Milford, Mass., Sept. 6, 1861. 

THE BEGINNING. 

Pursuanl to a call from Presidenl Lincoln for more troops in 
suppression of the great rebellion, a regiment is now being re- 
cruited in the city of Worcester for thai service, and a company 
is being recruited here for that regiment. Believing that it is to< 

soon to divide the estate, ami that too many different administra- 
tions running at the same time might run amuck, and believing [ 
should never feel quite satislieil with myself if I do not go, and 
believing with President .Jackson, that the Union must and shall 
lie preserved, I have this day enlisted in the company now being 
raised here. It would be useless for me to claim that I have en- 
listed from purely patriotic motives, as no one would believe it; 
and surely none would believe that I would enlist for the plain 
thirteen dollars a month. So I may as well call it that I have en- 
listed partly from a love of adventure; for the other part, people 
are at liberty to draw their own inferences. 

The formation of this company was suggested by Mr. Georg< 
Draper, a patriotic and public spirited citizen of the town, who 
has given liberally of his means for its success; his son also enlist- 
ing in the company. It has also received the aid ami patronage 
of several other patriotic citizens of the town. 

Sept. 24. Captain Clark has received orders to report with 
his company at Worcester, tomorrow. The thing seems to be 
becoming a reality. 

Sept. 25. Cinder escort of the Milford Brass Band, we 
marched through a few of the principal streets to the depot. 
Here a large concourse of citizens had collected to give us their 
besl wishes, and set' us off. We now began to realize some of 
the discomforts of ;i soldier*-- life. There not being passenger 
cars enough to accommodate us, we were crowded into two box 
freighl cars for South FraminghanY, where we changed to passen- 
ger cars for Worcester. Arriving there, we marched to the eitj 
hall, where we took dinner. From there we marched to the agri- 
cull ural grounds west of t he city, where we are to encamp. This 
camp is named ('amp Lincoln, in honor of Ex-Governor Lincoln 
of Worcester. 

Sept. 'Jti. Being the first company on the ground, and not 
having tents, we bivouacked lasl nighl in Agricultural Hall. Sleep- 
ing on a hard pine hoard was new business to mosl of us. ami 
Morpheus was courted in vain. The boys, however, made a frolic 
ofthe night, an. I more unearthly noises and sounds never greeted 



6 My Diary. 

my ears. I think the rebels would never need hear the sound of 
our guns to frighten them, if they could hear sounds like those. 
Several other companies arrived on the ground this morning, and 
this afternoon all hands are busy pitching tents. 

Sept. '11. Ten companies are now on the ground. Colonel 
Upton made us a visit today. He is to he our commander. I 
have known the colonel for several years past at our militia mus- 
ters. He commanded the old 9th regiment, one which stood sec- 
ond to none in the stare. I regard the colonel as a very hue man, 
and an able military commander. Under his command I have no 
fears l»ut that our regiment will make a record that not only them- 
selves, but the state will be proud of. 

Oct. 7. We were today mustered into the service of the 
United States, by Captain John M. Goodhue, U. S. A. The com- 
pany is designated as Company B, and the regiment as the 25th 
Massachusetts volunteers. I suppose we are now stuck for three 
years unless sooner shot. 

COL. UPTON TAKES COMMAND. 

Oct. 8. Col. Upton assumed command of the regiment to- 
day, and will at once set about perfecting the organization and 
discipline. The officers are: 

FIELD AND STAFF. 

Colonel, .... Edwin Upton. Fitchburg. 

Lieutenant Colonel. . Augustus 1>. i!. Sprague, Worcester. 

Major, . . . Matthew J. Me Cafferty, Worcester. 

Adjutant, . . . Elijah A. Harkness, Worcester. 

Quartermaster, . . William O. Brown, Fitchburg. 

Surgeon, ... J. Marcus Rice, M. 1)., Worcester. 

tPANY A. Captain, Josiah Picket, Worcester. 1st Lieutenant, Frank 

E. Goodwin, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, Merritt B. Bessey, Worcester. 
Company B. Captain, Willard Clark, Milford. 1st Lieutenant, William 

Emery, Milford. I'd Lieutenant, William F. Diaper, Milford. 
Company C. Captain, Cornelius G. Atwood. Boston. 1st Lieutenant, 

James Tucker, Boston. 2d Lieutenant. Merrick F. Prouty, Spencer. 
Company D. Captain, Albert F. Foster. Worcester. 1st Lieutenant, 

George S. Campbell, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, George II. Spaulding, 

Worcester. 

[pant E. Captain, Thomas O'Neill, Worcester. 1st Lieutenant) 

William Daly, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, Henry McConville, Worces- 

'ter. 

pany F. Captain. Charles II. Foss, Fitchburg. 1st Lieutenant, Levi 

Lawren :e, Fitchburg. 2d Lieutenant, .1. Henry Richardson, Fitchburg; 

[pany G. Captain, Louis Wagely, Worcester. 1st Lieutenant, Henry 

M. Rickster, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, Frederic M. Weigand, W< 

ter. 

pany H. i, < >rson M 1st, Li 

David M. Woodward. Worcester. riant, Nathaniel H. Foster. 

North Brookfield. 
■ANY I. Captain. Varanus P. Parkhurst, Templeton. 1st Lieutenant. 

James IS. Smith. Royalston. 2d Lieutenant, Amos Buft'om, TempletOn. 

■any K. Denny. Worcester. 1st Lieutenant, 

tel Harrington, Paxti ! rames M. Drennan, Wor- 

cester. 



My Diary. 7 

]\Iost of these officers and many of tlie enlisted men liave 

done military duty either in the state militia, or as three-months 
men around Washington. So we are not an entirely green 
crowd. The officers are a line looking body of young men, and I 
think, with a little flattery and catering to their vanity, we shall 
gel along nicely with them. 

Oct. 1-!. The hoys are settling down to the routine of mili- 
tary duty, and getting accustomed to cam]) life. They take 
kindly to discipline, and seem anxious to learn the drill. 

PRESENTATIONS. 

Presentations .-we the order of the day. The adjutant has had 
a horse presented him by his firemen friends. A ureal, stout, 
clumsy, good-natured horse. 1 should think he was better adapt- 
ed for hauling a fire engine than for a parade horse, hut perhaps 
will answer the purpose well enough. 

The major's friends have also presented him with a horse. 
A good kind of horse enough. Nothing very stylish or d ashy 
about him fur a war charger, but perhaps he can smell the battle 
as far as any horse. The major, in a clever little speech, assured 
his friends that they would never hear of the nag's striking his 
hest gail to I he rear. The major being aman of immense rotund- 
ity. I imagine that the horse after carrying him a couple of 
hours, would feel willing to give hoot to go into the ranks rather 
than remain on the staff. 

The Worcester ladies, with commendable patriotism, have 
presented us with a splendid silk banner (the national colors), 
and have enjoined us to carry it with us in our wanderings, ami 
return it again to them without dishonor. And we have sworn 
by a thousand stout hearts and bright bayonets, that that banner 
shall float above the battlements of secession an 1 be again re- 
turned to them, crowned with the laurel wreaths of victory. 
And when amid the flame and thunder of the battle, we look on 
its bright folds, remembering its fail- donors, rush to victory and 
fflorv. 

SPE< LTLATIONS. 

Our time is being occupied with drills and receiving company, 
with which we are highly favored and are always glad to see. 
The boys are having leave of absence, and are visiting their homes 
preparatory for their departure south. Many are the speculations 

among the hoys as t ir destination, hut no one seems to know 

anything about it. I tell them I think we shall go to J)i 

SELE< I IM. A CHAPLAIN. 

After hearing several candidates for the office of chaplain, 
they have finally settled on Rev. Horace Jan the old 

South church. Wo I think they have shown good jt 

niciii in ig a chaplain of' the orthodox faith, as 

visiting our camp for an hour could doubt their belief in the ex- 



8 My Diary. 

istence of the burning lake by the way they consign each other 
to that locality. 

THE LADIES. 

The pretty girls, God bless their souls, are always first and 
foremost in every good work, and they are now in session at 
Agricultural Hall, busily at work for the soldiers. They are 
making repairs and alterations in our uniforms, sewing on chev- 
rons and doing whatever small jobs of needlework we may desire. 
They have also furnished us with needles, thread, wax, buttons, 
pincushions, pins and other small articles which we may need. 
For all of which they will please accept the warmest emotions of 
grateful hearts. 

WE LEAVE WORCESTER. 

ft 

Oct. 31. It seems that at last we have been ordered from 
these cold, frosty climes, to a warmer ami more genial one — the 
Sunny .South. After partaking of a collation furnished by the 
ladies at the hall, at 8 p. m. we broke camp, and taking all our 
worldly effects upon our backs, preceded by our band, marched 
through Highland and Main streets to the common, where we 
took cars for New York. At the common we were met by a 
large concourse of citizens, friends and relatives of the regiment, 
who took us by the hand, giving us words of encouragement and 
a hearty (hid bless you. 

Here were leave takings that required some nerve to suppress 
the rising tear. Probably some of us have seen our friends for 
the last time on earth, and bade them the last good-bye. But we 
will go forward to duty, trusting in God, and hoping for the best. 

WE ARRIVE AT NEW YORK. 

Nov. 1. We left Worcester about ;"> o'clock last evening- 
Arriving at Norwich, we went aboard the large and splendid 
steamer Connecticut, the regiment numbering one thousand and 
thirty, with all our horses, wagons and camp equipage. The 
staunch steamer bore us r'apidly across the sound, landing us in 
New York about 9 o'clock this morning. 

After disembarking and forming the regiment, we marched 
amid :i perfect storm of applause and the New Yorker's peculiar 
"hi! hi!" to the City Hall park. A guard was then posted and 
the regiment dismissed until drum cull. A committee of gentle- 
men waited on the colonel, inviting him, Ins officers and the band, 
to a dinner. -it the Astor House. After they had gone, we fellows, 
by invitation, marched into the park barracks, to regale ourselves 
on mutton soup. And in all fairness, 1 must say that a worse 
soup or dirtier surroundings never came under my observation. 
1 didn't hanker for any, and heat a hasty retreat. If that soup 
didn't smell to heaven, it must have attained a high altitude 
above the city. Fortunate New Yorkers, that dwell in basements. 
I suppose the evening papers will have it that the 25th Massa- 
chusetts re&'iment dined at the Astor House. So we shall get the 



My Diary. 9 

name, if we missel the turkey. Feeling inclined to take a stroll 
and sec the sights of the big city (the guards nol being very 
effective), i1 was an easy matter to break the bounds, and we hail 
things our own way until about 1- o'clock, when the regiment was 
again formed. 

MAR< HIV'. DOWN BROADWAY. 

With an easy, swinging gait, in column of platoons, we 
marched down Broadway, looking the very soul of soldiery, an ! 
were greeted with a perfect ovation all along the route until we 
reached the Jersey City ferry, when we crossed to Jersey City. 
and took cars for Philadelphia. 

A STREAK OF LUCK. 

While waiting in the cars at Jersey City, the depot and | 
forms were crowded with people, all anxious to see and talk w 
as. Happening to have a seat nexl to the window, a gentler 
engaged me in conversation. He asked all manner of questions 
about the regiment, and anion-- others, if we were well provided 
for. meaning, I supposed, with clothing, blankets, rations, etc. 1 
said we seemed to he well provided with everything, except per- 
haps the sinews of war; in that direction I thought we were rather 
weak. On hearing that, he drew from the depths of Ins panta- 
loons pocket, a couple of half dollars and tendered me, which ! 
accepted with many thanks, and best wishes for his health an 1 
happiness. Thai was true patriotism; good fellow! long may 
von wave. 

BRK ,KF \S I IN PHILADELPH] \. 

Nov. -2. Arrived in Philadelphia at 1 a. m.: were met at th i 
depot by a committee of the citizens, and escorted to the old CO 
er-shop saloon, where we took breakfast. Our reception here 
in strikinu- contrast with that in New York, yesterday. [nst< 
of dark, gloomy, dirty barracks, with dirty, insolent attendai 
we were taken to a large, clean, well-lighted hall, where we v 
mel by a corps of neat, well-dressed and courteous attendants, 
both ladies and gentlemen, who seemed to vie with each other 
in their attentions to our want.-. The tables were m-atly spr 
and contained even more than »ly hungry men could 

sire. We had boiled corned beef, tongue, ham. brown and w 
bread, butter, pies. cake,fruit, tea, coffee, milk, etc. No. -at • 
with our eating all we wanted, they emptied our haversacks, and 
filled them with ham, tongue, bread, cake and apple-, remarking 
at the same time, that soldiers couldn't carry salt mule and hard- 
tack through Philadelphia. 

Breakfast over, we then had music by our band, 
short remarks by gentlemen present, after which three ch 
were proposed for the Pbiladelphians, which were given with i 
will. The regimenl now re-formed for a march across the 
to take the cars for Baltimore. As our hand -truck up the m 
waking the i the carlv morning, the winlows on < 



10 My Diary. 

side flew up, and out peered hundreds of heads in their scantily 
arranged toilets, and with wild hurrahs and waving handkerchiefs, 
cheered us on our way. At 4 a. m., we were aboard the ears and 
moving towards Baltimore. 

1 was informed that all troops passing through Philadelphia 
were received and fed in this same generous manner. It makes 
no difference when troops arrive, whether day or night, they are 
ready for them. They seem to find out, either by telegraph or 
some other way, just when a regiment will arrive. I must needs 
say that these Philadelphians area generous, whole souled people. 
They are worth fighting for, in fact they are the very aee of 
hearts; may prosperity attend them. 

ARRIVAL AT BALTIMORE. 

Nov. 3. We reached Havre de Grace about noon. A heavy 
storm has set in. It is raining- hard and the wind blows a gale. 
We crossed the Susquehanna river at this place, on a big steam 
ferry boat, and I must confess to some fears, as I looked from the 
ear windows down to the water, a distance of nearly fifty feet, 
and wondered why we did not capsize. Here I saw a govern- 
ment mule pen. Several acres are enclosed, and 1 was told that 
the pen contained about 10,000 mules. A large number of ne- 
groes are employed taking care of them. I think this must lie a 
base of supplies. After waiting here an hour or so to make up 
our tram, we again started. An hour's ride brought us to the fa- 
mous gunpowder bridge, which crosses an arm of Chesapeake bay, 
not far from Baltimore. This bridge the rebels attempted to 
burn, and partially succeeded. Many of the charred timbers are 
still to be seen on the bridge. There we saw the first soldiers on 
duty, a picket guard being kept here to protect the bridge. We 
reached Baltimore about 3 p. m., and left the cars in the midst of 
a drenching rain, and marched .about a mile through the rain and 
wind, to the steamboat landing, the band playing The Campbells 
Are Coming. No boat being in readiness to take us to Annapo- 
lis, Col. Upton told the captains of companies that they must find 
quai'1 their men, and be ready for an early start in the 

n ng. Captain Clark obtained a loft in a grain store for his 
ipany, where we passed the night wry comfortably. 

Nov. 4. Sunday morning in Baltimore, and a stiller or more 
place i never saw. No sounds are heard, no people or car- 

•s are seen in the street. !t looks and seems like a deserted 
city. ok a nun a portion of the city, visiting 

ti street, where the assaull on the 6th Massachusetts t< 
place. The bullet holes and scars on the walls of the buildings, 
gave 'ys got a good deal interested, while passing 

through thai 

We embarked on the steamer Louisiana, about 9 a. m., for 
Annapolis. Aswesteai tMc Henry, I was reminded 



Mv Diary. 11 

of an interesting scrap of history connected with this t'ort. When 
the British fleel bombarded this fori during the hist war with En- 
gland, there was aboard one of the ships, an American prisoner, a 
Mi-. Key, I think his name was. who watched with the most in- 
tense anxiety, the result of the bombardment, and during its pi'og- 
ress, wrote the song thai has since become famous as one of our 
uational anthems, The Star Spangled Banner. 

"By the cannon's red glare, the bombs bursting in air. 
Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there." 

Arrived at Annapolis about noon, and marched up to the Na- 
val academy, where we quartered and took dinner with the 21st 
Massachusetts, now doing garrison duty at this post. 

Religious services this afternoon, by Chaplains Ball of the 
21st and James of our own regiment. I cannot say that 1 was 
much interested in the meeting, as I was very tired, and preach- 
ing aboul the Pharisees and other antiquated sinners of a thou- 
sand years ago, did not seem to apply to my ease, or the present 
time. 

e \mi> HICKS. 

Nov. •">. Wenl into camp on Taylor's farm, aboul a mile 
west of the 'city, and Col. I'pton has christened it Camp Ilieks, 
in honor of Gov. Ilieks, the presenl loyal governor of Maryland. 
The "ilst New York is encamped near by us, and that regiment, 
with the 21st Massachusetts, were the only troops here before US. 

Now 11. We are now fairly settled in camp life. Several 
other regiments from Massachusetts and other states are now 
with us, and drills, inspections and reviews are the order of the 
day. One can scarcely gel time to wash his face, and take, as 
(Jeli. Scott said, a hasty plate of soup, before the drum calls to 
Some kind <<\ duty. 

Now 16. Here it is the middle of November, and the 
weather is most delightful. N<> frosts, but a warm, mellow at- 
mosphere like our Indian summer in October. It is beautiful, 
indeed; I am charmed with it. While our farmers in New 
England are putting up am! feeding their cattle in hams, the 
cattle her" are luxuriating in white clover, young, sweel and 
tender enough to suit th I fastidious taste of any of the 

cattle on a thousand hills. The farmers about here are harvest- 
ing their crops of corn and sweet potatoes, some of which are 
very fine. Some of the hoys brought in some egg plants which 
grow aboul here. 1 never saw any before, bu1 am told they are 
y good, when properly cooked. I am not disposed to doubt 
it, never having eaten any of them, hut I. cannot believe they 
woul I maki 

\\V omethingof the peculiar instil:!, 

— ilavery. There are a great many negroes strolling around 
< am Maryland is supposed to 

be a loyal st; have no right and afford them 



12 My Diary. 

protection. But we have adopted a kind of English, neutrality, 
although not giving them much protection, we give them what- 
ever information they desire. The masters and hunters are 
frequently here, looking up their boys, as they call them, and we 
generally manage to put them on the wrong track and then run 
the boys into other camps, and they run them into the woods. 

Our regiment was yesterday inspected and reviewed by 
Brig. Gen. .John G. Foster. We put in our best work, and tried 
to make the best appearance we could. The general seems to he 
a man who understands his business. At a single glance he takes 
a man and his equipments all in; looks at his rifle, passes it back 
and u'oes for the next one. lie complimented Col. Upton on the 
good drill and appearance of his regiment, and flattered his vanity 
a little by telling him that with a little more practice his regi- 
ment woidd he as near regulars as it would he possible to bring a 
volunteer regiment. 

Nov. 20. Yesterday, having a day to myself, I visited 
Annapolis. I was greatly interested in visiting the old State 
House on account of the historic memories that cluster around it. 
I was shown up in the hall where Washington, in December, 1783, 
resigned his commission in the army to the Continental congress, 
then in session at this place. His resignation was a very solemn 
and formal affair, and as 1 stood in this venerable hall, my 
thoughts went hack to those grand old days when our fathers 
struggled for independence. At the close of the revolution, 
Maryland offered to cede Annapolis as the Federal capital, hut it 
was thought best to select a site on the Potomac river. Annapo- 
lis was originally designed as a great place, being the capital of 
the state, and possessing a line harbor with a great depth of 
water, and long before Baltimore was at all noted, was the senl 
of wealth, refinement and extensive trade; hut it is now chiefly 
distinguished as the seal of the United States Naval academy. 
The state house and Episcopal church are located in the centre of 
the city, and from these radiate all the streets. 

To the eye of the stranger, the antique, moss-covered and 
vine-clad houses, with their deep embrasured windows and pe- 
culiar architecture, present a singular appearance. The Naval 
academy and Episcopal college present a striking contrast to the 
rest of the town. The buildings are large and of modern 
style, the grounds around them spacious and tastefully laid out. 
The Naval academy, located on the west side of the town, com- 
prises an area of several acres, enclosed by a high brick wall. 
The buildings, of which there are several, are located partly 
on the water side, the balance on the east side next to the wall. 
The wharfage and boat houses are extensive and commodious. 
On the north side, and commanding the harbor, is an old brick 
building with a U'\v port holes, and mounting a few old iron guns. 
This they call the fort, and 1 should suppose a few shots from 
one of our gunboats would level it to the ground. The park is 



My Diary. 13 

beautifully laid out with drives and walks, and adorned with a 
greal variety of forest and ornamental trees. The grounds and 
trees, however, are being sadly damaged by the soldiers and by 
driving army wagons across. 

II- re are also several handsome monuments erected in mem- 
ory of dep-uted naval heroes, among which 1 may mention one 
erected in honor of the gallant Capt. •Herndon. It is a plain 
granite shaft, about twentj feel high, and on each of the four 
sides is engraved simply the name, Herndon. I noticed this 
more particularly, as I remembered the circumstances of his 
death. PTe ranked as lieutenant in the navy, but at the time of 
his death, in September, L857, was in command of the steamer 
Central America, of the New York and California line. The 
Centra] America was on her passage from Aspinwall for New 
York, when she foundered during a terrible storm off (ape Ilat- 
teras. and out of 600 persons on hoard, only 200 were saved. 
Capt. Herndon superintended the getting off of as many of his 
passengers as he could, and the last words he was heard to utter 
were, '*] will never leave the ship until my passengers are all off," 
and standing on the wheel house, went down with his vessel. 
Brave, gallant 1 [erndon ! 

Nov. 22. The lirst death in our regiment occurred this 
morning. .John Shepard of Company B died of typhoid fever. 
His remains will be sent lo his home in Milford for burial. 

'I'll AXKSi.I \ ■;.\'i;. 

Nov. 30. According to the customs of our Puritan Fathers, 
last Thursday was observed in Massachusetts and other states as 
a day of thanksgiving to God, for his manifold mercies and 
bounties to the erring children of men. The day was observed 
here throughout all the camps as a holiday. All drills were sus- 
pended, and in our camp religious services were held, after which 
the boys engaged in ball playing and other amusements to which 
their inclinations might lead. Although deprived of joining our 
friends at home in their festivities and meeting them around the 
dear old board, it seen s we were not forgotten. Our thanksgiv- 
ing dinners are just beginning to arrive, and our camp is literally 
piled np with boxes and bales containing good things from the 
dear ones at home. 

THE TROOPS BRIGADED. 

Dec. 2. The troops encamped around here have been formed 
into three brigades, and will be commanded by Brigadier Gener- 
als Foster, Reno and Parke; the whole to he under command of 
Gen. A. K. Burnside and known as Burnside's coast division. Our 
regiment has been assigned the right of the first brigade, com- 
prising the 25th, 23d, -J Mh and 27th Massachusetts and 10th Con- 
necticut regiments, under command of Brig. Gen. John G. Fos- 
ter, U. S. A. I think we are fortunate in our commander, as he 
appears to me like a man who understands his business. Gen. 



1 1 



My IM\i:\ 



:i regular ami} officer, ranking as captain of engineers. 
He served in the Mexican war, and was with Major Anderson al 
the storming and surrender of Fori Suinpter. He lias recently 
been commissioned brigadier general of volunteers. Judging 
from appearances,] liave greal faith in him as an able commander. 

< "I RTS m \i: 'i i ai.. 
1>; I irts martial seems to be a prominenl feature in 

cam | t, and alniosl every night al dress pa- 

ons are read against some unlucky 
wight. The burden of the song seems to be t Irunk to per- 
form the duties of a soldier ; bul as this is a tamp of instruction, 
I |>r< - are really more for practice than anything 
else. 

\ W \ LT\ INTO ['HE COUNTRY. 

. 10. The weather holds warm and springlike. We 
have no need oats, unless doing guard duty nights. The 

peoji us it is an unusually mild fall, but that we shall 

suiarl lots of cohl ;!inl snow before many days. I t<»»k 
;i walk of :i few miles into the country yesterday, on a tour of 

on. I noticed whal appeared to me a greal extenl of 
[ami, bul very badly improved. Occasionally I -aw a farm 
whei med to be kept up snug and showed some evi- 

dences of thrift, but more oi them looked as though the owners 
studied to see how shiftless they could be and still manage to live. 
Buildings and fences are going to decay; fields of corn are y el 
unharv< ted, the cattle and hogs running through and destroying 
them. I asked one man why he didn't harvest his corn. "Oh," he 
said, "there is no hurry aboul that, I have got all winter to do il in, 
and the corn is ju off in the field as anywhere." I came 

to the conclusion thai his plan of harvesting was aboul as fasl as 

he wanted it to eat. 1 said to another man I met, "You have g I 

laud aboul here, sir: easy of cultivation and close to a market. I 
suppose you make a pile of money?" "Oh, no," he said, "you 
are mistaken; righl pour land aboul ye re, one can hardly make a 
living on it. bul you go over ye re a few miles to some creek [the 

name of which I have Tor and you will find righl g I 

land : make as much again corn on it as you can on this." I asked, 
"Whal do you value this land at?" "Well," he replied, "we 
reel I worl li ab< >ut s: I ii an acre : reckon 

some of it moughl be bought for a little less, bul the land around 
Annapolis is worth from S2n to $5U an acre.'" I made up my 
mind that a man with an ordinary degree of enterprise, with our 
improved implements ining and with hired labor, mighl 

take this land and make money on it. I am unable to See any 
profits from slave labor in Maryland : it is poor help at the besl : 
In sides they have to be clothi d and fed several months in a year 
during which time they ;u much, ami there is always 

on .: farm employing a dozen or more field hands, ,-t hu of old 



My Dia-RY. 17 

breaking the frozen ground around the tent pins, packing their 
knapsacks and getting ready for a start. We have been here so 
long it seems almost like leaving home to break up and go out on 
untried scenes. 



CHAPTER II. 

Jan. (i. Reveille beat a1 6 o'clock this morning, and all hands 
turned out in the midst of a driving snow storm, elated at the 
prospect of getting away. I cannot say I was very exuberant in 
spirit as there was work in it and things began to look like a real- 
ity. An hour or so sufficed to pick up our traps and load our 
camp equipage <>n the wagons, drink a cup of hot coffee and de- 
clare ourselves ready to march. The companies were formed in 
their company streets, the rolls called, and we marched out on the 
parade ground and formed the regimental line. Col. Upton said 
he should like to fire a tew rounds as a parting salute to old Camp 
Hicks, and gave the order to load. The firing over, there came 
the order, "By companies right wheel! forward march !" and we 
turned our hacks on our old home. Passing the camp of the 27th 
Massachusetts, we halted, and, wheeling into line, honored them 
with a salute of a irw rounds, which was responded to with 
hearty cheers. We then marched to the Naval academy, where 
seven companies, with the field and staff, their horses, band and 
all the camp equipage, went aboard the steamer New York. 
Two companies. I) and II, went aboard the gunboat Zouave, and 
company I aboard theschooner Skirmisher. .VI! aboard, the Xew 
York Steamed Out into the harbor a short distance ami anchored 
till further orders. 

an inc idknt: 

A lit tie incident here occurred showing the good nature of 
Col. Upton. While waiting for the baggage to he got aboard, a 
small party of us thought we would go up to the academy grounds, 
and see the 4th Rhode Island hoys who had just arrived. We 
had not been there' fifteen minutes before we saw the boal leaving 
tin- wharf, and the way we put for it was a caution to travelers a 
little too late for the ears. We reached the wharf all out of 
breath, and the first man we saw was Col. Upton. lb' appeared 
a little cross at first, and then putting on one of his good-natured 
looks, asked ns where we had been. We replied we had been up 
to see the Rhode Island boys. "Well," he said, "yonder goes the 
boat, what are you going to do?" Some one suggested that un- 
der the circumstances we had better stand by the colonel and take 

■1 



My Dim: v. 1 -"» 

men ami women and small children who are nol earning any- 
thing, Imt still have to be supported. 

A LOOK III BOUGH THE < AMI'S. 

Dice is. I have been looking through the cam]) around here 
and am astonished nl the amount of offal and swil i i is buried 
up and losl instead of being turned ton valuable account. An 
enterprising farmer could collect from these camps, manure and 
swill to the value of $100 a day, costing no1 i simply cnrt- 

ing il off, thus enriching his land and fattening hun Ire Is of I 
and cattle ; l>ui this lack of energy and enterprise pi 
people from turning anything to account. They content them- 
selves with sitting down and finding t'aull with the government 
and their ruore>enterprising and energetic neighbors of the north. 

a DEPOT OF sri-i'i.:; 

Dec. 20. We are having cold weather ; freezini hard 

at night, and making our lodgings in these ] . houses any- 

thing bul comfortable. I have been with a detail of men down 
to the wharf unloading and storing army supplies. Annapolis is 
a depot of supplies, and immense quanti landed here and 

sent by rail to Washington. A person a iver having go n 
subj my prep vration and supplies mavh thought, vould 

astonished at the immense quantities he would see here, and would 
in to calculate how longil would be before Uncle Sam would 
he bankrupt. Large warehouses arc filled and breaking down un- 
der the weighl of flour, beef, pork, bread, sugar, coffee, clothing, 
ammunition, etc., while the wharves and adjacenl grounds are 
filled with hay, oats, lumber, coal, guns, mortars, gun-carriages, 
pontoons and other appendages of an army. I presume the cost 
of feeding and clothing an army of half a million of men is not 
really so much as the same number of men would cost at home, 
but the army being consumers, instead of producers, the balance 
will eventually be found on the debit page of the Ledger. 

CHRISTMAS. 

Dec. 24. Tomorrow will be Christmas, and the boys in all 
the camps are making great preparations tor the coming event. 
The camps are being pu1 in order and decorated with evergreens. 
Some of them are trimmed in good taste and look very neal and 
pretty. The bo,ysare all looking forward to a good time; I hope 
they will not be disappointed. Santa Clans is expected here to- 
night with our Christmas dinners, but he maybe delayed and 
nol g t here for :i week to come. 

Dec. 26. Christina-, wen! off very pleasantly and apparently 
to the satisfaction of all. Drills were mspen i id and nil went in 
for a good time. The Irishmen had their Christmas box, the 
Germans their song and lager, while ball playing and other athletic 
sports used up the day, and music and dancing were th ord r of 
the evening. Santa Clans came with a Christmas dinner for a few, 



16 My Diary: 

but more of us he pissed by ; h »wever, I think the old gentleman 
lias gol a store Lor us somewhere on the way. 

Our camp was \ isi t <■< 1 by :\ number of la lies and gentlemen 
From th • eil . . who wer • guests at hen [quarters, C laplain .lames 
doing the polite, and entertaining them as besl he could. No 
Farther south than this, I was surprised to hear the chaplain tell 
of the ignorance of these people in regard to northern people and 
their institutions. One lady, noticing a box of. letters in the 
chaplain's tent, said she thought he must have a very large cor- 
respondence to have so many letters, lb' to}d her those were 
soldiers' letters going bo:ne t > their friends. "Why," she asked, 
■•arc there many of your soldiers who can write?" lie informed 
her thai there were no1 a half dozen men in the regiment but 
could read ami write, lie told her that free schools were an in- 
stitution at the north. No man was so poor bn1 he could educate 
his children, and the man who neglected their education was re- 
garded as little better th m the brutes. The lady appeared quite 
astonished an 1 slid she thought our free schools were only for the 
rich. 

RUMORS. 

De< . 28. The camp i> fall of rumors about our leaving, but I 
hardly think any one knows much aboul it as yet, although it is 
quite probable we shall leave before long. The expedition is all 
here and has been perfected in drill. Nothing that I can see 
prevents us from leaving at any time. When we break this cam]) 
we can count our happy time over, that we have seen our best 
days of soldiering. Campaign life in the field, as 1 understand it, is 
at the l>est a life of hardship, privation and danger, ami the 
man who expects much else, will lie grievously disappointed. 

A lUI. I. DAY. 
Jan. 1. 1sf;-_>. The new year i> ushered in with a light fall 
of snow and very cold weather. There is just snow enough to 
prevenl drills or any sports the hoys may have been anticipating. 
Altogether the day will be a dull one. The sutler, anticipating 
our removal, lias not much to sell or steal. The sutler is regarded 
as the common enemy of the soldier, and when forced contribu- 
tions are levied on him il is considered entirely legitimate and 
rather a good joke. The boys will have to content themselves 
witli card playing and writing letters home. We have just got a 
new stove running in my tent, and Long Tom is detailed today 
to supply it with wood. 1 think we shall make a comfortable 
day of it, if Tom does his duty. Things certainly begin to look 
like leaving; the harbor is full of Vessels, transports, gunboats 
and supply ships. Appearances indicate that somebody will hear 
it thunder somewhere along the southern coast before very Long. 

ORDERS TO LEAVE. 

• .fw.o. Orders have been issued to break camp ami go 
aboard the transports tomorrow morning. The boys art. 1 now 



I- My Diary. 

our chances. "Ah!" he replied, "1 will soon have you fellows 

i know where to find you." Hi* then procured :i boal 

and erew, tolil iu board iinil pul for the steamer. As we 

pushed n\\ \\ i tli • wharf, we lefl the col I standing there, 

loo] ood natured and happ^ as though it was Sunday after- 

ooon and li>' had j 1 i-t heard a good sermon. 

i. \i:ii i in: S i. w vc irk. 

.I\\.T. Here we are, packed like sardines in a box; three 
companies of us, K. C and l>. in the after cabin. Theofficers and 
band occupy the saloon and state mm.iii> mi the upper deck, the 
other companies til! the cabin <>n the forward deck, the ladies 1 sa- 
loon and gangway amidships. The horses are forward, and the 
baggage is piled up forward and on the guards. Altogether, we 

arc settled in here prettj thick, bul by keeping ourselves in g I 

humor and by a little forbearance and accommodation, one to the 
other, we shall manage to gel along and live together in peace, 
like Barnum's happy family. This boal is a largo, first-class 
steamer, buill in the strongesl maimer and designed for a sea-go- 
ing boat. She is commanded by Capt. Clark; the firsl mate is 
a Mr. Mulligan. Both have the appearance of gentlemen. The 
i! »ops are embarking as rapidl) as possible, and in a day or two 
more the expedition will be ready to sail. 

.1 \\. !•. As bright and lovely a morning as ever dawned on 
Chesapeake bay. The expedition sails today. The harbor is full 
of life, tugboats are running in all directions, vessels are getting 
iht mselves in their order in line, the anchors are all up and wait- 
ing the signal gun to .-tart . 

in a. in. The signal gun announces thai all is ready for the 
departure of the expedition. Slowly the flag-boat., containing 
Gen. Bnrnside and staff, moves i iff, followed by other boats as t'asl 
as they 'jet ready to sail. Nothing particular occurred during the 
day's sail. The baj is wide and we were so far from either shore 
that we could distinguish nothing of interest. We passed the 
mouth of the Potomac river a little before sunset, and shortly af- 
ter dropped ancht ir for t he nighl . 

Jan. 10. A thick, heavj fog envelopes the l'>aj th/s morning, 

so thick we cannot see half the boat's length. In a little while the 

tie, and it looked eurious to see the trpmists of 

the boats and schooners above the fog as they passed ns. their 

hulls being hidden entirely from view. 

9 a.m. Weighed anchor and proceeded on our journey. 
Our boal being first after the Hag-boat, we soon passed the boats 

ran \\ us in I lie \"-j;. 

a i:i:i\ \ i. \ i KOR i i:i SS MOH i. 

A little befon noon w d fortress Monroe, and as we 

passed the Minnesota and other men-of-war lying in the roads, the 
sailor- sprung into the rigging and cheered lustily, to which the 



My Dim; v. 19 

boys responded heartily from the boats, the bands playing as each 
boal passed. 

At I •! in., our boat dropped anchor between the rip raps and 
the fort. Every available place on the boat for sight seeing was 
quickly taken, the boys eagerly looking at things the like of which 
they never saw before, and many of them probably never sup- 
posed existed. 

Here it appears is the rendezvous of the expedition ; gunboats, 
tugboats and supply vessels in great numbers are lying here to 
join ns. If one-half the armada lying here accompany us, we may 
naturally conclude there is heavy work to be done somewhere, or 
else we are taking force enough to break down all opposition and 

make an easy job of it. 

.Tax. 11. As I look ou1 on the Old Dominion, the Mother of 
presidents, statesmen and heroes, my mind is tilled with historical 
reminiscences of its pasl greatness and glory. Alas! that Virgin- 
ia, a state that bore such a proud record in the history of our 
country, a state that has (lone so much and sacrificed so much to 
gain our independence and establish our government, should now 
be sunk iii the mire and slough of rebellion. 

There is no appearance of leaving here today; many of the 
officers are going ashore to look around, and the boys are amusing 
themselves as besl they can. .Many and various are the specula- 
tions and conjectures as to our destination. Some think we are 
to make an attack on Yorktown, others that Norfolk is the point 
of attack. Some prophesy" that we shall go up the dames river, 
others that we are going far down the coast. T have not both- 
ered myself much aboul it, but conclude we shall fetch up some- 
where. As one looks on "old glory" proudly waving over the 
frowning battlements of Fortress .Monroe and the rip raps, he 
would naturally conclude that this part of Virginia had not passed 
the ordinance of secession. Fortress Monroe is built of granite 
and earthworks, and is calculated, I believe, to mount some 4<i<> 
or 500 guns. It is the largest and strongesl fo'-t on the coast and 
the only complete work ill this country; hence it is called a for- 
tress. The rip raps is an unfinished work, built on an artificial 
island, and situated about a mile east of Fortress Monroe. When 
completed, it will be a powerful work, and all vessels going to 
Norfolk or up the .lames river will have to pass between the two 
forts. 

Looking west we can see the ruins of Hampton, burned last 
fall by order of GeU. Magruder. Speakine of Magruder reminds 
me of an anecdote I have somewhere read of him. While serving 
in .Mexico, he ranked as captain of infantry in the regular army. 
While there he was in the habit of spreeing it pretty hard, and 
early one morning, alter he had 1 ecu bu1 on a pretty rough time, 
his regimenl received orders to march. By some strange over- 
sight, the captain failed to replenish his canteen, ami in a little 
while he began to experience an intolerable thirst . In this dilem- 



•Jit M^ DlAKY. 

ma he called on one ol his privates, whom lie supposed mighl have 
something, and asked hira what he had in his canteen. He was 
told thai it contained a certain kiud of Mexican liquor, of which 

the captain was verj f I. After taking a pretty g I bumper, 

he said, "Private Jones, \<>u will hereafter rank as corporal, and 
be obeyed and respected as such." Alter a while, his thirsl again 
coming on, he goes and calls for some more of the liquor. This 
time he abonl found the bottom of th< canteen, and thanking the 
corporal for his politeness, said to him, "Corporal Jones, you 

will hereafter rank as sergeant, aud 1 beyed and respected as 

such." And, as the story went, if the canteen had held ou1 a 
while longer, private Jones mighl have ranked as brigadier gene- 
ral. 

i in: k\ i'i ditiojj sails. 

Jan. 12. The big expedition, with colors flying and bands 
playing, sailed thi^ afternoon, leading seaward. No one on board 
will know our destination until we round Cape Henry, when the 
are to be broken. A little before nighl we parsed Cape 
Henry and headed south. We arc now fairly at sea; the wind is 
blowing hard and the schooners are going pasl us as though we 
were anchored. Nighl has settled down on us and darkness 
covers the face of the deep. There is nothing niorc to be seen, 
we are now the creatures of chance, with the chances against us, 
and we musl learn to adapl ourselves to the circumstances by 
which we arc surrounded. Acting on this philosophy, we will lie 
down on our hard bunks and listen to the splashing of the water 
against the Bides of our boat. 

A T AM HI IR. 

Jan. 13. Going on deck ihis morning, I found we were rid- 
in- at anchor in sighl of Hattcras light. Not knowing the mean- 
ing of this, I inquired <>!' Mr. Mulligan it' people went out to sea 
and anchored nights? He laughed and said the shoals and the 
lights being down along shore made navigation in these wal 
rather dangerous, and they though.1 the} had better anchor. I 
went forward to take in the situation. The wind was blowing 
fresh from the southeast, with heav) swells running. As the) 
weighed anchor, the boal rose and fell with the swells. I rather 
enioved this and thoughl it ver) nice. After a lew moments I 
began to experience a peculiar sensation around the waistbands, 
audit occurred to me thai I had better go and lie down. Altera 
half hour I was all righl ftgain, and went on deck. Mr. Mulligan 
said, "We are going to have a greal storm and Hatteras is a l>ad 
place to be caughl in a storm. 11 Hut I \ wa) of encouragemenl 
he tells ns we are safer with hira aboard the New York than we 
should be at home in bed. 

THE STORM \ I HATTERAS I \ I I I . 

At I p. in., we dropped anchor in fronl of the batter) at Hat- 
ter.is inlet, in the inidsi of a terrific southeast storm. Our Heel 



My Diary. -21 

comprising nearly 100 sail are making the inlet as fast as possi- 
ble; but it is feared that some of them will not be able to get in 
and will either be lost or have to put back. This is indeed the 
grandest, wildest scene I ever beheld ! As far as the eye can 
reach, the water is" rolling, foaming and dashing over the shoals, 
throwing its white spray far into the air, as though the sea and 
sky met. This is no time for man to war against man. The 
forces of Heaven are loose and in all their fury, the wind howls, 
the sea rages, the eternal is here in all his majesty. As one looks 
out on the grand yet terrible scene, he can hut exclaim, "Great 
ami marvelous are thy works, Lord, God Almighty!" 

A WRE< K. 

A large steamer, attempting to run in this afternoon, run on 
the shoals ami will probably prove a wreck. As she came in 
sight ami attempted the passage of the inlet, we watched her 
with breathless anxiety, until she seemed to have passed her 
greatest danger and all were hopefully looking for her safe arrival, 
when suddenly she struck the shoal and turned broadside toward 
us, the sea breaking over her. A shudder ran through the crowd 
and disappointment was on every countenance. Tugs were im- 
mediately dispatched to her assistance, hut returned unable to 
render her any. Capt. Clark thinks if she does not break up dur- 
ing the night, and the wind lulls, that perhaps in the morning she 
can be got off, or at least those on board of her can. It is not 
known whether she contains troops or stores. If she should go 
to pieces during the night, God help those on hoard of her, as 
there is no one here that can. 

Jan. 14. This morning presents ; i scene of terror and wild- 
est grandeur. The wrecked steamer has not broken up, hut has 
-ei tied down in the sand, the sea breaking over her, and her rig- 
ging is full of men. Boats th it have been senl to her assistance 
are returning, having keen unable to render any. We learn from 
the returning boats that she is the City of New York, loaded 
with stores. Another tug, with Gen. Burnside ami a crew of 
picked men, has just gone to their assistance, and it is hoped 
will lie able to take them off. The general is not one to see his 
men perish, ami make no effort to rescue them. I reckon our 
friends at home, when they hear of the loss of this boat, will con- 
found it with our own. and will experience the greatest anxiety 
until they get our letters, or get righted through the papers. The 
tug returned this afternoon, bringing off the officers and crew of 
the wrecked steamer, who report that she is breaking np, and will 

Soon gO to pieces. 

AT THE MERl Y OF THE W I XI > AND WAVES. 

The wind is still blowing a gale. .Many of our boats and 

vessels which have arrived are parting their cables and dragging 

their anchors, are being driven ashore, or sinking or fouling with 

each other. The saloon and upper works of our boat are stove in 



22 Ah Diary. 

from gunboats and scl tiers fouling with us. One of our .-in- 
ch >r cables has parted, and the engine is -lowly working, helping 
the other one. Many of our vessels are -till outside, and fears 
are entertain* 'I thai soi t' them will be lost. 

Capt. Clark says m> boal can gel in here today withoul the 
mosl skilful pilot, and then al greal risk of being lost. The gun- 
boal Zouave, with companies 1> and II of our regimenl aboard, is 
in :i sinking condition. Tugs are alongside of her, and the boys 
are scratching for their lives to gel aboard of them. This is the 
kind of soldiering thai makes the boys think of home and of 
their mothers. I cnnnol help laughing jusl a little when :i boal or 

scl ner fouls with us, and the timbers and planks begin to crack, 

to see tlif boys come oul <>t' their bunks, their eyes sticking <>nt 
of their heads, and rush up stairs to see whal the matter is. 
Well, it is nol strange thai these young boys should feel a little 
nervous, as it takes a man of pretty strong nerve to keep his fears 
down. We arc hen- ami have gol l" make tin- besl of it. It' we 
arc in lie lost, all our fears will avail us nothing; we musl take 

things coolly, trusting in Providence, Mr. Mulligan and tin- g I 

old steamer for safety. 

Jan. 15. Rough weather still continues, and we arc out of 
rations, subsisting entirely on hardtack ami a shorl ration of that. 
I uless it calms down 80 a tug can gel alongside, we -hall he en- 
tirely out in a day or two more. Three more boats dragged their 

anchor- ami went ashore this mine;, ami other boats, with their 

flags union down, are calling for help. In fact, things are begin- 
ning to look gloomy, hut amidst all the trouble ami discourage- 
ments, Gen. Burnside i- everywhere to he -ecu. flying aboul 
anion-- 1 he boats and vessels, encouraging his men ami looking as 
cheerful as though everything was going to suil him. Todaj a 
fi be! boal came down the sou ml to take a look at us. One of our 
boats went out to meet her. hut the rebel, not caring for an inter- 
view, hauled off. The colonel. Surgeon and one other man of the 
9th New Jersej regimenl were drowned today, by the upsetting 
of a small boal they were in. And so we go, trouble and dangers 
by sea, ami I suppose there will he more by land, if we ever get 

there. 

MORE BOATS A.SHORE Wl> SINKING. 

.1 \\. 16. Three more boats ashore ami leaking, one of them 
i- the l'. s. mail-boal Suwanee, from Fortress .Monroe for Hilton 
Head. She ran in here this morning to leave mail- ami dispatch- 
es tor this Meet, intending to -ail this aftern i, hut owing to the 

high winds ami heavj sea, she parted her cable ami drifted on an 

anchor fluke, breaking a hole In her bottom ami -link. She lies 

on the sand, with her deck aboul four feet oul of water. It i- 

said -he can he pumped out and raised when it calm-, of which 
time, however, t here seems to he a \ er\ dim prospect. We have 

ju-t heard from the old steamer Pocahontas. She went ashore 



My Dim: v. 23 

below Hatteras light. She had our team horses aboard, and 
nearly all of them were lost. The men who were aboard of her 
gol ashore and are now coming down the island. The schooner 
on which thesignal corps were aboard has not been seen or heard 
from and there is much anxiety for her safety. We have kept 
alive on hardtack thus far, but on account of the storm no tug 
has been aide to get alongside with rations, and we going it with 
half a ration of hardtack and coffee once a day. Five cents 
apiece are freely offered for hardtack, with no takers. 

THE STORM OVER. 

Jan. 17. The great storm has at last subsided and the sun 
once more shines out. All the hands are out playing, everything 
is putting on a more cheerful appearance, and we can now look 
around and see the result of the storm. Boats and vessels are 
ashore all around us, in a partially wrecked or damaged condition. 
The upper works of our boat are little better than a wreck, from 
the bowsprits of schooners and catheads of other craft that have 
fouled with us. Our accommodations are rather limited as is also 
the fare, hut by practicing forbearance am! great good nature, 
the harmony is as perfect as could he expected. A tug is along- 
side with rations, so at last the long fast is broken. I think the 
hoys will not be over nice about their dinners when they get 
them. I have sometimes thought I could relish a dinnei from 
that soup I saw at the park barracks. Our dinner today was 
served about '2 p. m. ; hill of fare, pea soup ami coffee. 1 have 
always persuaded myself that I didn't like pea soup and wouldn't 
eat it, hut today 1 changed ray mind and thought I never ate 
anything that tasted quite so good as pea soup. 1 voted it :i 
ureal luxury. 

HATTERAS ISLAND AND INLET. 

Jan. I'.i. Witnessing boat collisions and wrecks is getting 
old, and the hoys are amusing themselves by writing letters, 
making up their diaries, playing cards, reading old magazines and 
newspapers which they have read half a dozen times before; 
and some of them are actually reading their Bibles. Of all the 
lonely, God-forsaken looking places I ever saw this Hatteras 
island takes the premium. It is simply a sand-bar rising a little 
above the water, and the shoals extend nearly 100 miles out to 
sea. The water is never still ami fair weather is never known; 
storms and sea gulls are the only productions. Sometimes there 
is a break in the clouds, when the sun can get a shine through for 
a few moments, hut this very rarely happens. The island extends 
from Cape Benry, Virginia, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina, 
with occasional holes washed through it, which are called inlets. 
It is from one-half to two miles wide, and the only things which 
make any attempt to grow, are a few shrub pines and fishermen. 
I don't think there is a bird or any kind of animal, unless it is a 
dog, on the island, not even a grasshopper, as one would have 



•J I )h Diary. 

tn prospect the whole island to find n blade of grass, and in the 
evenl of his finding one would sing himself to death. Tin- inlet, 
i^ \i\\ narrow, noi over half a mile in width, and the channel is 
still narrower, consequently ii makes an indifferenl harbor. Still 
it is better than none, or as the sailors say. any poii in a storm. 
Bui as had as it looks and bad :'.s ii is, it is, after all. a verj 
ini]>ortan1 point, perhaps as importanl in a military p'oinl of view 
ny 'Hi the coast. It is the key or gate-way to nearly all of 
eastern North Carolina, and places us directh in the rear of 
Norfolk, \ a. This island is noi wilhoul its history, if we ma\ 
believe all the fearful and marvelous stories thai have been 
written <»!' it, of its being the habitation <>t wreckers and bucca- 
neers in ye 'j'"" I old colony t inn s. 

THEATRIC VI S. 

The boys are up to all sorts of inventions to kill time. In 
the amusement line the officers have started an exhibition or 
theatre up in the saloon. It is a clever device to break the dull 
monotony; to cheer up the loneliness and homesickness which 
11 to prevail. The exercises consisl of recitations, dialogues, 
singing and music, and make a very good evening's entertainment. 
A limited number from each company are nightly admitted, and 
I can see no r< ason why it will m>t prove a success, as there -'-ems 
to be no lack of talent, music or patronage. For a comic per- 
formance, one should be down in the after-cabin of an evening, 
especially aboul the time the officer of the day, who i^ a lieuten- 
ant, comes annuel to silence the noise and order the lights out. 
This after-cabin is a soil of independent community, having its 
own by-laws, and throwing off pretty much all restrainl and 
doing aboul as ii pleases. The officer of the da^ is prett} sure 
to ! cep "-.it of the cabin during the day, bul comes to the head of 
the stairs in the evening, and gives his orders. Vei'3 little 
attention will be given them, until finally he will venture down 
stairs, when he will be greeted by an hundred voices with, 
"Officer of the day! turn oul the guard!" And a hundred more 
will respond, "Never mind the guard!" and this will be kepi up 
until inally drive him out.. Sometimes, after the officer of 

the daj has failed to restore unlet-, the colonel will come t<> the 
stairs and say, "Hoys, it is getting late ; time to be quiet." That 
is the highesl known authority, and order will come <>ut of con- 
fusion immediately. \Viiln>ui in\ disparagement to the lieuten- 
ants, the hoys have a greal respeel for Col. Upton ; he has only 
to speak and his wishes are cheerfully and instanth complied 
with. 

\ 0,1 1 1 I DAY. 

J ax. 21. The weather still continues in an unsettled state. 
Although noi so rough as it was, it is still too rough to attempt 
to do much. All the vessels of our Heel are iiom here, except 
those thai \> and the sel ner with the signal corps. 



My Diary. 25 

• 

Nothing lias been heard from her, and we are beginning to think 
that she too may be lost. Albert Tucker of company B died this 
morning, and his body was taken ashore and buried on the beach 
this afternoon. It is a sad sight to see men die and be buried 
here on this low, lonely sand-bar. 

He lies on the beach, the cold waters beside, 
And lonely and sad was the death that he died. 

No mother mourns o'er him, no fond fair one weeps 
Where far from the hind of his fathers he sleeps. 

But the mad swelling waves and the wild birds career 
O'er the wet sandy grave of the yoimg volunteer. 

• HUNTING A CHANNEL. 

Jan. m l'l. The light-draught boats are engaged in finding 

and making a channel across the bar, or swash as it is called, of 
sufficient depth of water to enable the large steamers to cross 
into the sound. One great trouble about that is if they find one 

Today it will all be tilled up tomorrow. We shall have to wait 
till calmer weather before we ran cross. 

RATIONS'. 

A schooner came alongside today and left ns rations ot 
steamed pork, hardtack and condensed sea water. This was a 
very timely arrival as we have been very short of water for two 
<jr three days and pretty much everything else. Rattlesnake 
pork will taste pretty good again after a few days 1 fast. Condensed 
-,ea water is rather a disagreeable beverage, hut still is a little 
ahead of no water at all. 1 think, however, it might he made 
palatable by adding aboul nine parts whiskey to one of water. 
This water and pork is all manufactured here on the spot. They 
have a sort of rendering establishment where they make it, 1ml I 
cannot believe that the pork would take a premium in any fair in 
the country unless it was for meanness. 

A RIPPLE OF EX( 1TKMKNT. 

Another rebel steamer came down the sound to-day to take a 
look at us and see how we are getting along. One of our boats 
gave chase ami I reckon got a shot at her, as we heard reports of 
artillery. Those fellows are just smart enough to keep out of our 
way, I hope they will always he so, 1 have no great desire to shoot 
the cusses, but still if they get in my way, and 1 think they ought 
to be shot, I suppose I shall do it. 

The theatre up in the saloon is a great success. They have 
just got out a new play, a kind of burlesque, entitled the Rasper 
Brothers, and large posters are sent over the boat announcing the 
unprecedented success of the Rasper Brothers; playing nightly 
to crowded houses and hundreds turned away; none should fail 
of witnessing this highly ral drama. 

OLD DAN. 

Old Dan is having a terrible lit of the blues. lie cannot un- 
derstand why we were sent to this ( iod-forsaken place. I tell him 



i^t; My Diary. 

thai < lod has uol forsaken it bul has Benl us here to Bave it : and 
Dan, with a big oath, swore thai ii was not worth saving. I said 
to him : •■ \ -ii are seeing it at its worst. This is a famous water- 
ing-place; ;i greal Bummer resort." He thinks it might do first- 
rate for a watering place; bul cannol conceive of anyone who 
would wanl to resoii here. He thinks the greatesl mistake he 
has made in this whole business was in nol running away as I 
:i<l\ ised him to, while :it Annapi 'Ii 1 -. 

ANOTHER STORM. 

.\w. 23. Another greal storm. The wind is blowing a gale 
and the sea is dashing, foaming and threatening everything with 
destruction. The camps on shore are floodea, the soldiers driven 
int" the fori or up the island; more vessels ashore and the fleel 
going to the devil. A greal man) of the men are beginning to 
despond, and in fad the success of the expedition begins to look 
gloomy enough. Nothing hut hardship and disaster has attended 
ii- since we lefl Fortress Monroe, and God only knows when it 
will end. Almost any other man but Gen. Burnside would be 
ready to give it up as a failure; bul he is everywhere to be seen, 
looking cheerful and confident, and encouraging his men. He is 
a man of indomitable energy, perseverance and courage. Ele 
knows no Midi word as fail, and is bound to overcome all obstacles 
and dang 

[f the general, by the blessing of God, gets the expedition out 
of tlii^ scrape, and is successful where he strikes, it will give him 
greal prestige, and he will be thoughl competent for any com- 
mand. Our engine is slowly working, helping the anchor cable, 
and Mr. Mulligan says if the other boats will stick t - their 
mudhooks .nil keep clear of us we shall ride it oul all safe. I 
really hope they will for I am tired of these cathead drills. I 
have always had rather of a desire for a sea voyage, bul I am 
willing to confessthal thai wish is fully gratified. This being 
"rocked in the cradle of the deep" sou nils all very pretty in song 
and romance, bul the romance is played oul with me, and I think 
the person who wrote t he s< >ng, 

■• A Life on the < >cean Wave," 
in u -i have been a proper subj -jet for a lunatic asylum. 

.1 \ \ . 24. The storm has subsided somewhat, bul is -till rough 
enough for all practical purposes. Mr. Mulligan says fair weather 
has I" i a known here, and taking thai as :i precedent, we may 
naturally conclude it perhaps may be again. This is certainly 
the longesl storm I ever remember of, and never read of bul one 

thai exceeded it. Thai was th< e Old Noah go1 caughl 6u1 in. 

bul lie had the advantage of us, as his was the onlj craft afloat, 
and had plenty of sea room; besides his style of navigation was 

ahead of our-, a- lie let her drill around where she pleased and 

trusted to luck for a landing. That kind ^\ navigation mighl 
have answered for those times, bul would never do for Hatteras. 



Mv Diary. 27 

And now another trouble has happened, the theatre lias collapsed, 
and 1 am at a loss to understand the reason for it. It certainly 
could not have been from any lack of talent, music or patronage. 
It seemed to be perfect in all its appointments, and I can 
account for its sudden closing in no other way than thai there 
must have been sonic little indiscretion on the pari of the 
management; but perhaps Rasper Brothers may have had some- 
thing to do about it. I am sorry it has closed, as I could spend 
an evening up there very pleasantly. But in the loss of the 
theatre we must console ourselves with the thought that the 
drama has always had its difficulties. 



TIllC STORJJ OVER. 



.Tax. :!.">. The storm is a1 last over, for to-day at least. It has 
cleared off warm and pleasant, and is the first bright day sine. 
we came here. Business is brisk to-day; all is hustle and hurry. 
There is quite a change of scene, the boats' decks are covered 
with soldiers, shouting and cheering each other; the bands are 
all out playing, and altogether it is quite a contrast to the miserable 
lite we have been living. Our attention is taken up watching the 
operations going on in the harbor, among the shipping. Steamers 
are being towed across the swash into the sound, and steamers 
and tugs are at work straining every nerve to pull off the boats 
that are ashore. It makes fun fOr the boys watching them pull- 
Five or six steamers and tugs are at work trying to pull off the 
Eastern Queen, on which are the 4th Rhode Island boys, and 
when they all pull together it s< ems as though they would 
pull her in two. Sometimes she stuns to stait a little, and then 
stick again ; the boats will give a steady pull for an hour before 
she w ill start again. Occash nally a big cable will break, and it is 
fun to watch the agility of the boys, dodging the recoil of the 
cable ends. 

The big steamer Northerner attempted to cross the sound at 
flood tide this rooming, and stuck in the middle. She carries the 
lilst Massachusetts, and I think they will have to be taken off 
before she can get across. A number of boats and tugs are at 
work, trying to pull her across. If the Northerner sticks, going 
across at high water, how we are to cross is a problem yet to he 
solved, as the New York draws six inches more water than the 
Northerner. 

SICK HORSES. 

The horses do not appear to stand hardships and privations 
as well as the men. On short feed, condensed sea water, with no 
exercise, they grow sick and debilitated. A schooner is lying hut 
a short distance from us, with a deck-load of horses, belonging to 
a Rhode Island battery, and they are jumping them overboard, 
and swimming them ashore. It is curious to observe the horses 
as they are led up to the gangway; to see them brace themselves 
hack and shudder to take the fearful leap. Jiut a little encourage- 



28 



M\ Diary. 



inciii from half a dozen men in their rear pushing them, over they 
go, and as i!i«\ runic up oul of the water, they shake their heads 
and snort, and put for the nearest land, where they are rubbed 
• li_\ , blanketed and led oft' up 1 he island. 

\< ROSS THE SV( VSH. 

Tlif Northerner lias crossed into the sound, and anchored" 
\s she gol off and moved into the sound, cheer after cheer wen 
up from .-ill the fleet, the bands playing and all having :i big tim e 
ally. 

.I \\. ■-!''>. Quite a number of boats have been hauled off, and 
are now lying in the sound. Tiny are still al work on the 
Eastern Queen, which seems to be as finnh imbedded in the sand 
as were her timbers in the soil in which 1 1 1 < ■ \ grew. The 
steamer Louisiana, with the * "• 1 1 1 New Hampshire aboard, lies high 
and dry on the shoal, and ii will be a job to get her off, bul 1 
reckon she will have to come, or come to pieces. When half a 
dozen big steamers get hold they make a pretty strong team, and 
something has got to come or break. I learn she is hogged, what- 
ever thai is. I shouldu'l be surprised if she was, if she has been 
well supplied with this gull bah they call pork. 

We had religious services this morning and afternoon, the 
first we have had since leaving Annapolis. We had excellent 
singing, and the chaplain's remarks were well timed and to the 
point. He recounted the dangers and troubles, which under the 
blessing of God, we have been broughl through, and -poke words 
of cheer and comfort for the fu1 ure. 

in i: CI Rl i w . 

.I\\. -~ . Preparations arc going on this morning to gel the 
New York across the bar. We were transferred to the steam 
ferry-boal Curlew, and arc now anchored in i he sou id. The New 
York is to be lightened of everything on board, and ii is thought, 
with a full sea and some help, she may be aide to cross. We are 
in the mosl disagree ible an I uncomfortable quarters we have yel 
been in. Every change seems I i bring some new hardship, and 
with a few more changes for the worse we shall be able to learn 
how greal are our powers of endurance. We .ire packed in here 
a- thick ;h bees with scarcely standing room, and the old craft is 
open at both ends admitting the cold winds and rain-, bes 
being as \ve1 and dirty as a stable, [fit should rain hard enough 
to drive us in from the ends of the boal and from < > t't' the deck, a 
part of n- would have i<> lie down in our hunk- to give standing 

r n for the rest. I should think the water casks were a ceme- 

tcr\ I'm- dead rats hv theua\ the water taste-; condensed sea 
water is a luxun to it, and bywa> of encouragement we are t<>hl 
thai we are to have some tomorrow. There are, however, a few 
casks "I good water aboard, bul we are nol allowed any of it. I 
reckon the hoys will manage to gel some of it. If they don't, it 
will Lean exception to their general smartness. The officers and 



My Diary. 29 

crew of the old hulk are cross and crabbed, and unless they altei 
their tactics, I fear they will get enough of us before we have 
been here many days. 

A STRANGER. 

Jan. 28. Work is still going on, getting the boats off and 
getting them across the- bar. The Eastern Queen is afloat and 
will be with us today. The little steamer Pilot Boy, with Gen 
erals Burnside and Foster aboard, is flying around among .the 
vessels of the fleet, giving orders to the boat commanders and 
commanders of troops. The sutler came aboard today; he is 
quite a stranger and the boys gathered around him, asking him a 
thousand questions. lie broughl with him a small stock of fruit 
and other notions which went off like hot cakes at any price 
which he chose to ask. Some of the hoys thought the prices 
pretty high, hut they should consider that it is with great diffi- 
culty and expense that things are got here at all. They have the 
advantage, however, in nol being obliged to buy, if they think 
the charges too much. The Eastern Queen is" coming across the 
swash, tiie hands are all playing and cheers are going out from all 
the fleet. 

Till: SIGNAL I OKI'S ARRIVES. 

Jan. '29. The long lost signal corps arrived today. Wc 
gave them a great ovation; flags and streamers flying, hands 
playing and cheering from ail the boats. They have had ahard 
time of it, having been fourteen days on the passage from Fori 
ress Monroe. They ran out to sea in the first great storm, and 
the succession of storms has prevented them from getting in. 
They were well nigh famished when they arrived. 

GOOD WATER. 
We are today luxuriating on good water, the first we have 
had for many days. Some of the hoys Ias1 night got in the reai 
of the forbidden water casks, and by a vigorous use of a jack- 
knife, succeeded in tapping a cask. Any quantity of canteens 
(mine among the rest), were filled with the contraband water, and 
if the thing is kept still today there will he a big haul tonight 
Our fare is pretty short, and of a kind never dreamed of in the 
cabin of a first-class ocean steamer. Still it answers to keep us 
breathing, and perhaps that is as much as we can expect while on 
th's excursion. We are thriving on a half ration of steamed 
pork and hardtack, with condensed sea water. The half ration 
of pork is a bountiful supply ; it is so strong : ml oily a very little 
answers the purpose, ami hardtack is the chief dependence. But 
for water, we shall do well enough so long as we can steal it. 
Coffee is entirely out of 1 he question, for on this ciafl there is no 
chance lor the cooks to make it in great quantities, although they 
do manage to make a small amount for the officers. None of us 
are allowed down in the fireroom, so that shuts us off from mak- 
ing coffee or scouse. 



30 



My DlART. 



I suggested to a few of the faithful the plan of getting down 
mi the bottom of the boat, under the boilers, and kindling a fire 
there and making some. They seemed in think thai it would be 
rather a desperate undertaking, besides the) would smoke them- 
selves i mi before they had half accomplished their purpose. 

.1 \ \ . 80. Our canteens are again filled with the contraband 
water, so we shall be ;ill righl today as far as thai is concerned. 
Some of the boys made a raid lasl nighl on the sutler's stuff and 
appropriated t<> themselves pretty much whal be had. I cannot 
approve of that, as the sutler is al a good deal of trouble :ni<l ex- 
pense to gel a few notions for us and probably, sells them as cheap 
,i- he • - r 1 1 1 afford. The boys ouglil nol to steal from him, ;it thi> 
time especially, as there are those who would be glad to buy. A 

scl ner came down todaj to take a look al us. one of our boats 

gave chase, bul a good breeze blowing, the schooner had the ad- 
vantage and go1 away. This afternoon a small boal was seen 
coming down flying a white Hag. The boal contained one dai'key 
who had risked the perils of the sound to escape from the land of 
Jeff, t he house of bondage. 

A DISCOVER! . 

A greal discovery has jusl been made and isn'1 there larks 
now, though. The skipper is foaming with rage. An aeeounl <>t' 
stock has been taken, and a cask or two of water is missing. <>n 
inspection it was found tapped .-it the wrong end. A very mys- 
terious circumstance, bu1 such things .-in- liable to happen. A 
strong guard has been placed over the other casks. 

Jan. 31. This morning a small schooner was seen coming 
down the sound. A boal went ou1 and mel her; she contained 

seven darkies who said the-y stole the scl ner and lefl in her from 

Roanoke island. They were put aboard the steamer S. II. Spaul- 
ding, and the little schooner hitched astern. They can probably 
give some valuable information in regard to affairs on the island. 
The New ifork i-< stuck on the swash, and several boats and tugs 
are trying to pull her across; she will probably gel oft' tomorrow. 
The\ will then all be across, excepl the Louisiana, which will be 
herein a day or two. We gol :i big mail today; an) quantity of 
letters and newspapers, and the boys are cheered up wonderfully 
to hear from home. 

a i; \ ; \ storm. 

Feu. I. A verj heavy rain sel in lasl nighl ami continued 
until 9 o'clock this morning. The oh! Curlew looks as though 
she had been down cruising for mermaids and came back disap- 
pointed, she i^ all all oat. Fore, afl and amidships ; the rain drove 
in at the ends, the 'leek leaked and altogether we had a prettj 
rough nighl of it. ! cannol saj how the others slept, bul my 
sleep was anything bul balmy. I did not, in fact, dream of dwel- 
ling in marble halls. 

Tin New York lias crossed the bar and we are again aboard 



My Dim: v. 31 

of her; thank our lucky stars. Good-bye, old Curlew ! and may 
you find a sweet and lasting repose at the bottom of the sound 
before you are many days older. Our 1 » 1 1 1 of fare this week con- 
sisted of steamed pork and liardtat-k of a poor quality, and short 
supply at that. Since they caught us stealing water, the fluid has 
been the meanest kind of condensed sea water, the poorest we 
have yet had. 

Feb. i!. A high wind prevailed this morning and the sea was 
somewhat rough ; the boat had considerable motion, hut the hoys 
had their sea legs on. so ii caused them very little trouble. 

HIGH LIVING. 

Our company cooks, with commendable enterprise and in- 
dustry and with an eye to our present well being, furnished us 
with baked beans and hoi coffee for breakfast. This was a great 
treat, and every man had all he wanted ; a vote of thanks was 
given the cooks. For dinner boiled beef was served, the firsl 
we have had since leaving Fortress .Monroe. 

I hope this kind of fare will hold out, but fear we shall have 
a relapse of the worst kind. The chaplain held services in the 
saloon this morning and afternoon. The hoys spent most of the 
day writing letters, reading newspapers and making up their 
diaries. 

A GALA DAT. 

Feb. 3. The winds have ceased, and the sea i- as calm as an 
honest man's conscience. Companies are parading the decks of 
the steamers, a dozen hands are out playing, everybody is feeling 
good, and altogether, we are having quite an enlivening scene. 
Business is brisk today; all the boats are in the sound, and 
schooners are alongside of them, supplying them with coal, water 
and rations', preparatory to a trip up the sound. Everything now 
seems in iie nearly ready, and I expeel that some fine morning we 
will make a call on our southern friends. No doubt they will be 
delighted to see us, and as they say, to welcome US with bloody 
hands to hospitable graves; but perhaps it has never occurred to 
them that in a reception of that kind, they, perchance, may fill 
some of the aforesaid graves. I had much rather they would 
welcome us to a. good dinner of fish balls than cannon balls; hut I 
suppose they will have their own choice of recepl ion and we must 
reciprocate the best we can. 

Merchandise brings a right smart juice in this market, and a 
man needs a heavy purse to purchase very extensively. I paid $1 
for the same quantity of tobacco 1 bought at home for forty 

cent S. 

THE EX PEDITIOS MOVES. 
FEB. 5. The clink of the Windlass is heard on all the boats, 

hoisting up their anchors, so here we go for a trip up the sound. 
probably for Roa noke island. This island holds the Albemarle 
Sound and all that part of North Carolina lying on it, ami also 



32 



y\\ i>i\k\ 



Southeast Virginia. It is quite an import anl point, and we learn 
is strongly fortified. Our Heel consists of aboul seventy sail ol 
all kinds and makes an imposing appearance. The gunboats, 
under command of Commodore Goldsborough, take the advance, 
the transports and other crafl following. After a few hours' sail, 
tin low, pine-covered shore "I' the old Noi'th state presented itseli 
t<> view. We were in sighl of the shore all day and nol a hi 
was to be seen or any visible signs of life, excepting huge columns 
of smoke rising above ili< j tree-tops. These were probably signal 
fires, ;i> they could be seen along the shore as far as the eye could 
reach. We sailed today to within ten miles of the light-house at 
,the western end of the Pamlico sound, the entrance to Croatan 
sound, in which is situated the coveted island. Here we 
dropped anchor for the night, the gunboats forming a piekel 
guard, and extending themselves nearly to the light-house. The 
island can be seen through a glass, and tomorrow I expect we 
shall gel a nearer view. 

l-'i r.. 6. Hoisted anchor and steamed to within a shoii dis- 
tance of the lighl house, and in full view of the island. Here we 
again dropped anchor and the da} was -.pent in prospecting by 
the gunboats. Tiu\ want up near the island, and after a few 
hours returned, reporting three forts and a number of armed 
boats and schooners. The thing is being managed pretty cau- 
tiously, and I expecl when tlif -how comes off, i1 will be ahead 
of anything we 'ever saw, nol excepting Barnum's. For one. I 
am nol over anxious to see a fight, and especially to be a partici- 
pant, hut we have been arloal so long and fared so hard 1 wish t<> 

ashore, no matter under what circumstances. One would 
have supposed, to have heard the hoy- talk last night, thai we 
were .-ill Napoleons. They talked of booming guns, the rattle of 
infantry, of splendid bayonel charges, brilliant victories, and 
deeds of courage, daring and heroism. On the principle, I suppose 
of those who know nothing fear nothing, bul t hen it is a good plan 
not togel our tails down until we arc obliged to. 1 even goi m\ 
courage screwed up so I could repeal the words oi some great 
military hero or Oi her: 

"Then w elcome w ar, our arms to brace, 
The standards planted face to face ; 
Tim' death's pale horse lcn<!s en the chase, 
\\ .•" II follow there." 

Ammunition was deall oul today, and our cartridge boxes 
now contain forty rounds of the death-dealing missiles. The boys 
seem to be in greal spirit- and the bands are discoursing national 
music. 

I M I BOMBARDM1 M. 

Feb. 7. A thick fog prevailed this morning and continued 

until aboill 9 o'clock, when it lifted and the gunboats go1 under 
way. Slowly ihe\ steamed towards the island and took their 
positions before the forts, bul at a suffieienl distance nol to incur 



My Diary. 33 

much damage from them. We were all eagerly watching the 
movements of the boats, when at aboul 10 o'clock, we saw a 
white cloud rise from om- of the boats, and the next moment a 
huge column of dirt and sand rose from the enemy's works, 
showing the effect of the shot. The fort replied from all its guns, 
but their shots fell short as the boats lay beyond their range. 
The bombardment now commenced in earnest, the boats sailing 
in a circle, and delivering their fire as they passed the fort. 
Their firing was not rapid, hut well directed. The fort's guns 
blazed away as rapidly as possible, doing some damage to the 
boats. At noon the transports commenced the passage of the 
narrow channel into Croatan sound. From here we had a much 
nearer and hetter view of the bombardment. The floats were 
sailing much nearer the fort and firing more rapidly. They had 
driven the men from the guns on the fort, ami their fire was 
feebly replied to. At this time the shells from the boats had set 
the barracks and other buildings near the fort on tire. Great 
clouds of smoke and flame rose from the burning buildings, and 
the ltoats belched forth their fire more furiously than ever, the 
shots tearing up the parapet of the fort or burying themselves in 
the mound of sand covering the magazine. It was truly a grand 
and fearful exhibition! Thousands looked on with breathless 
suspense, expecting every moment to see the magazine blow up 
or the rebels strike their colors. 

The enemy's gunboats, which had been idle spectators be- 
hind the blockade, now came to the rescue; but a few well di- 
rected shots from LOO-pOunder rifles sent them reeling back to 
their places. From this time the boats had things their own way, 
the fort occasionally firing a shot as much as to say, we never sur- 
render. During the bombardment a small sloop or yacht attract- 
ed a good deal of attention. She carried one 100-pounder gun. 
She lay low in the water, below the range of the enemy's guns, 
and was skilfully handled. She sailed in the circle, running close 
up to the fort and delivering her fire with telling effect. With 
every shot she fired she was cheered by the fleet ; all the bands 
playing. 

THE I. A MUM;. 

About 2 p. m., preparations were made to land the troops. 
The little steamer Pilot Boy, with Gen. Foster aboard, and about 
half a mile of barges in tow, was seen approaching our boat. I 
was standing near Col. Upton, at the gangway forward the wheel- 
house, as the Pilot Hoy ran alongside, and heard Gen. Foster tell 
the colonel to order his men to load with ball cartridge, take three 
days' rations and come aboard his boat and the barges as soon as 
possible. This loading with hall cartridge was a new order to 
me; it implied that our holiday soldiering was over. A peculiar 
feeling such as I had never before experienced came over me; I 



34 Ah DlAKT. 

fell n to the very taps of my brogans, and thoughl I would rather 
be excused. [ turned around and without saying a word I') any- 
one wenl down stairs. Drawing Spitfire from it- hiding place, 1 
dropped in the little messenger thai if needs be perhaps might 
c:mt\ mourning and sorrow to Borne southern hearthstone. In 
'. time we left the New York and were going towards the 
Bhore, followed by ■ » 1 1 1 « - 1- boats containing the balance of our bri- 
gade. The intention was to land aboul four miles above the fort, 
in ,i little nook called Ashby bay, near Ashby house; bu1 as we 
neared the bay, a line of bayonets seen above the bushes, 
g 'iii- double quick in that direction, changed tin* general's mind, 
and we turned our course towards a marsh a mile or more nearer 
the fort. As we ran alongside the marsh where we were to land, 
Captain Picketl of company A made a leap for the land, going 
half way to his neck in mud and water, lie was the first man on 
the island. At this time ' ! i > ■ line of bayonets above the bushes 
was seen coming back. The little gunboal Dei aware now came 
up and commenced shelling the bushes and woods to cover our 
landing. In a few minutes we were all on the marsh and wading 
through the mud and water for the hard land, a distance of some 
forty rods. On reaching this we soon came oul to a small clear- 
ing, on which was a house, barn ami out-buildings, the occu- 
pants of which had suddenly taken their leave. Here we found 
things as the occupants had lefl them, the cat quietly sitting in 
the corner ami the tea-kettle singing over the life. 

Adjutanl Harkness ami Lieutenant Richter of company G 
climbed to the top of the house and nailed thereon a small flag in 
honor, I suppose, of our landing ami notice of our intention of 
Btay/ing. Company A,Capt. Pickett, and company K, Capt. Den- 
ny, were senl out mi a reconnoissance v . They soon returned, re- 
porl in-' no enemy near. 

5 p. in. Foster's brigade hail all landed, ami by dart nearly 
the whole division were ashore. Now commenced the work of 
carrying rails ami planks to build a road across the marsh to get 
the howitzer- of ; he marine artillery ashore. Soon after dark. 
Gen. Foster, with the "Ji>t Massachusetts anil a section of the ma- 
rine artillery, hauling their howitzers, wenl pasl US int" the w Is 

to establish his pickel line. After a while the general returned, 
ami said we mighl build fires ami make ourselves comfortable. 
Fires were kindled and we began t" look around for places to 
sleep, hut a rain setting in, put an end to that. In the rain we 
stood around the camp-fires through the lone- night, while an occa- 
sion ml in the woods served to keep up a little excitement 
ami pre\ nil u- fr< 'in gel I in- sleep) . 

i; \ I M i: ( 'l KO \ \"K i: ISLAND. 

Feb. 8. At daylight, the order to fall in was heard on all 
Bides. Putting on mj equipments and taking Spitfire and a hie- 



M v Diary. 85 

sweet potato, which I had with much labor succeeded in baking, 
I took. my place in my company. The brigade all ready, Gen. 
Foster gave the order to march. He, with Col. Upton, took his 
place at the right of our regiment, marching by the think into 
the woods. We soon came out to the pickets and the road that 
runs through the island. Here we filed to the left, marching up 
the road. Company A, Capt. Pickett, was thrown out as skir- 
mishers. They soon fell in with the enemy's pickets and drove 
them in. The column moved up the road to within a short dis- 
tance of the clearing, in front of the rebel works. On the right 
<*>f the road the ground was hard and free from brush, hut on the left 
was an almost impenetrable swamp, covered with a dense growth 
of tangle-brush and horse briars. The right wing of the regiment 
filed to the right, while the left plunged into the swamp, and with 
.swords and jack-knives, succeeded Iii cutting a path until they had 
penetrated the swamp far enough to form our line. The regiment 
was now nearly all in the swamp, the right resting just across the 
road. The howitzer battery had taken position in the road, in 
front of our right wing. The 23d and 27th Massachusetts formed 
on our right, while the H>th Connecticut was held in reserve. 
We were now in line in the swamp, and facing to the front, com- 
menced firing. The battery had already opened, the ball, and 
were receiving the attention of the enemy in front. 

We could see nothing to shoot at, hut taking our range by 
the smoke of the enemy's guns we blazed away. We tired high, 
low and obliquely, thinking if we covered a wide range of ground, 
we might possibly lame somebody, and it seemed our shots must 
have proved troublesome, for they turned their attention to us, 
pouring musketry and canister shot without stint into the swamp. 
We were up to our knees in mud and water, so their shot passed 
pver us without doing much damage. We were now ordered to 
cease tiring and advance, but how to advance was the question. 
We could stand on a hog and cut away the briars in front of us 
and jump to another one; where they were not too large we 
COuld crawl through them, tearing not only our clothes hut our 
hides as well. r idie officers rendered good service in cutting away 
the briars with their swords. In this way we could advance a 
few steps ;it a time and then tire a few rounds; the enemy all this 
time showing us marked attention. 

Capt. Foster of company 1) was the first man T saw Int. I 
Mas watching him as he stood on a hog, cutting away the briars 
Avith his sword, and thinking of him as colonel of the old 8th 
regimenl .'Massachusetts volunteer militia, in which I used to imis- 
ter. The -hot struck him near the eye. lie whirled round on 
the bog, and would have fallen had not three of his men caught 
him and led him to the rear. 

I was rather amused at the major's plan of rifle practice; he 
was practicing with :i large revolver, shooting into the air at an 
elevation of about 80 degrees. Some one asked him what he was 



36 Mv Diaky. 

trying t" act out. "Why," replied the major, "you see m\ si 
:itt:iin their summil directly over the enemy, and if one of those 
Bho1 in falling Bhould hi1 a man on i<»|» of his head, his goose is 
cooked jusl as effecl ually as though be had been hit with a cannon 
ball." 

I!v cutting and crowding ourselves through the briars, we ad- 
vanced to within aboul 300 yards of the enemy. Our ammuni- 
tion being now exhausted and having been in the swamp about 
three hours we were ordered out. The -\s\ Massachusetts took 
our places and the 51s1 NV« York and 51st Pennsylvania regi- 
ments forced their way through to the left fronl : the three regi- 
ments succeeded in getting oul on the enemy's right dank. See* 
ingthal all was now lost, the rebels took to their heels for the 
head of the island, followed by Reno's and Foster's brigades. At 
the head of the island, near the enemy's camp, was Gen. Burn- 
side with the 'J4th Massachusetts regiment, to whom Col. Shaw, 
in command of the Confederate forces, surrendered. By this, 
aboul 3000 prisoners, with their arms, ammunition :m<l stores, fell 
into our hands. Bui the greatesl prize of all, old ex-Governor 
Wise, slipped through our fingers. Perhaps, having some premo- 
nitions of the fate which awaited his command, he wisely took 
himself off the island lasl night, leaving his command with Col. 
Shaw, of the ^th North Carolina regiment. The old governor 
probably acted on the principle of the militia captain who was 
about leading his company into action. lie made them a little 
speech, telling them to be brave and valiant, nol to run until 
actually forced to. "I>ut," he said, "in case that should happen, 
and I being a little lame, I think I had better start now." 

THOUGHTS. 

During the action I had seen quite a number hit and led back 
to the rear, bul I had little time to think much about it. After 
the chase commenced and we marched through the little redoubl 
.- 1 1 1 < 1 over the ground held by the enemy, and 1 began to see the 
mangled forms of < 1 < ■ .- m I and dying nun, I was filled with an in- 
describable horror and want cil to go righl home. I now began 
to realize what we had been doing, and thoughl that, it' in this 
age of the world, with all our boasted civilization and education, 
men could nol settle their differences short of cutting cadi other's 
throats, we were nol very far removed from barbarism. Bui I 
suppose so long as the nature of man is ambitious and selfish he 
will try to obtain by force what he cannol attain l>\ other means. 
It was about night when we reached the Confederate camp, found 
the business had all beeri done, and Gen. Burnside was master of 
the situation. We now appropriated to our own use the log bar- 
racks of the enemy, leavingthem to secure lodgings as best they 
eon Id, as we had done the night before, with only this difference : 
thej had a large body-guard over them, to see thai they were 
orderly and kept the peace. 



My Diaet. 37 

after the battle. 

Fe^. 9. A hard looking lot this morning, and no doubt feel- 
ing as hard as we looked. Tired, hungry, ragged, covered with 
mud, and sure from our flesh being torn and scratched with the 
tangle-brush and briars through which we forced ourselves yester- 
day. After a good ration of whiskey and a breakfast of fried 
bacon, with hot coffee, we began to limber up and feel a 
little more natural. We can now look over therield and see the 
results of yesterday's work. Our regiment lost six killed and 47 
wounded, some of them probably fatally. Our whole loss was 42 
killed and Lit)'.) wounded. The enemy's loss is not known, but is 
probably less than ours. Today the gunboats are after the Con- 
federate Hot ilia and no doubt will give them a taste of what hap- 
pened yesterday. It will probably be reported at headquarters in 
Richmond that their navy in these waters has become a thing of 
the past. Our march up from the battle-ground, yesterday after- 
noon, was rather an interesting one, if men nearly dying from 
exhaustion can be said to get interested. The trees for a mile in 
front of our line are marked and scarred by our shot, showing 
the terrible effectiveness of our rifles. The road was strewn with 
nuns, knapsacks, equipments, blankets and everything that im- 
peded their retreat or which they thought they had no further 
use for. Passing a little brown house By the wayside I noticed 
quite a crowd of surgeons and officers standing around. Crowd- 
ing my way up to the little open window, I saw the pale, quiver- 
ing form of a young man lying on a cot, with a slight covering 
over him, apparently in a dying condition. I inquired if any one 
knew who he was, and was told it was ('apt. O.Jennings Wise, 
son of ex-Governor Wise. He had received a mortal wound and 
could not possibly survive many minutes. He was editor of one 
of the Richmond papers and captain of the Richmond Light In- 
fantry Blues, tli' 1 crack company of that city, lie was a brave 
young fellow, and his was the lasl company to leave the redoubt, 
and then only when he fell mortally wounded. 

THE PRISONERS. 

Feb. 10. The prisoners are a motley looking set, all clothed 
(I can hardly say uniformed) in a dirty looking homespun gray 
cloth. I should think every man's suit was cut from a design of 
his own. Some wore what was probably meant for a frock coat, 
others wore jackets or roundabouts; some of the coats were long 
skilled, others short : some tight fitting, Others loose; and no two 
men were dressed alike. Their head covering was in unison with 
the rest of their rig; of all kinds, from stovepipe hats to coon- 
skin caps; with everything for blankets, from old bedquilts, cotton 
bagging, strips of carpel to Buffalo robes. The Wise legion are 
a more soldierly looking set; they wear gray cloth caps of the 
same pattern, and long sheep's gray overcoats with capes. Most 



38 



Mv. Diary 



of the officers are smart, g 1 looking young men, wearing well- 
fitting graj uniforms, nol unlike those of our own officers. 

Ii i- nol dress altogether thai makes the man or the^soldier. 
I find among these chaps some pretty good fellows. I came 
across one young man from Richmond; he was smarl appearing 
and verj loquacious. In some talk I had with him he said; "This 
has turned ou1 nol as I wished, but nol differenl from what I 
expected when we saw the force you had. In fad we had m> 
business staying here after seeing your strength. We have mel 
the enemy and we arc their--. I accepl the situation and am glad 
it is m> worse'. I am Secesh clear through, and after I am ex- 
changed, shall be at you again. We are now enemies, but in 
peace friends, and when this little dispute is settled, it' any of you 

fellows ever come to Richm I, hunt me up. If alive, you will 

he welcome as long as _\'>u choose t<> stay, and when yon leave, if 
you don'1 saj you have had as righl smarl a time as you ever had, 
call me a liar and I will call you gentlemen." The fellow gave 
me In-- eanl and said his father owned a plantation jusl out of the 
city. 

I met one fellow, a long, lank, lean, long-haired, sullen, ca- 
daverous looking chap, and asked him what he was doing here. 
"Well." he said, "imt much; hut yon "nns was righl smarl to gel 
through that swamp. We thoughl tin' devil couldn't gel through 
it.*' -So you think what the devil can't do. Yankees can't, do 
you? You mustn'1 take the devil for your guage in estimating 
Yankees; if you do you will always gel beat. We can give him 
points, and heat him everv time." He looked a little incredulous, 
Imt did not scan inclined to go into any argumenl about it. 

These fe]|o\\> threw awav a good many pistols and knives 
which they Carried, many of which our hoys have found. The 
knives are large, <•< .arse, ugly looking things, forged al somecounl ry 
blacksmith shop, by a bungling workman, out of old rasps, scythe- 
points and anything containing steel. I asked one fellow what they 
carried those knives for, whal use they put them to? "Oh! 
he said, "them's Yankee slayers." "Yankee slayers? And have 
you slain manj Yankees with them?" "Wal, no. but we thoughl 
they mought come handy in close action." "And did yon think 
you would ever gel near enough to the Yankees to use them ?" 
-Wal. we didn't know bul we mought." "Well, sir, those knives 

are tOO heavy to carry, an 1 you don't need to earn them, for 

long before you would ever gel near enough to the Yankees to 

u.se tin in the places that now know you would know you no 

iik ire f< >re\ it." 

The hoys are mixing in among the prisoners, talking over the 
fight, trading jack-knives, buttons and such small notions .-is they 
happen to have, and getting acquainted with each other. The 
weather is warm and pleasant, like May. The robins and other 
birds are singing as in summer. The robins seem like old friends 
ami neighbors and I cannot help thinking that perhaps some of 



My Diary. 39 

them had their nests last summer in the trees and bushes which 
grow in our own floor. yards and gardens at home. 

Our gunboats have wiped irom the face of the earth that 
part of the Confederate navy whieh prowled around these waters. 
They ehased them up the Pasquotunk river to Elizabeth City, 
where, after less than an hour's engagement, the enemy set their 
boats on lire and tied. 

SETTLING PROPERTY TITLES. 

Feb. 12. The Confederate officers have been paroled and 
sent to Elizabeth City" up the Pasquotunk river. The 25th had 
the distinguished /n>n<>r of escorting them and carrying a part of 
their baggage to the wharf where they took the boat. I reckon 
it must have been rather pleasing to those officers to see Yankee 
soldiers taking their luggage for them, but this disgrace must 
have been a thoughtless mistake on the part id' the colonel or 
whoever ordered it. Those officers had with t hem t heir colored 
servants, hut after thej were ail captured, officers and servants 
were a good deal mixed as to who they belonged to. When the 
officers were about leaving, (Jen. Burnside settled the question. 
He told the darkies they could decide for themselves; they could 
go with their masters or stop here, just as they liked. A few of 
them went with their masters, the rest staid hack to take their 
chances with the Yankees. 

PAROLING THE PRISONERS. 

Feb. 18. The prisoners are nil paroled, and were sent off to- 
day. Paroling the prisoners was rather interesting to the lookers 
on. They were required to affix their autographs to the parole, 
and it was curious to observe that a large majority of them wrote 
1 it the same way, simply making: the letter X. ('apt. Messenger, 
the provost marshal, was master of ceremonies. lie is a very ec- 
centric man, and many of the prisoners scarcely knew whether to 
be pleased or frightened at the curious questions he asked and re- 
marks he made to them. 

HISTORY. 

Feb. 23. The hoys are amusing themselves making pipes 
from hriar roots and fixing long stems of cane to them. Some of 
them are carved very handsomely and show much artistic skill. 
Washington's birthday was celebrated by salutes from the forts 
and a holiday in the camp. There is some very interesting histo- 
ry connected with this island, hut not having hooks to refer to, [ 
can 'jive hut a very indifferent account of it. Sometime in the 
latter part of the 16th century, Sir Walter Raleigh, an English 
nobleman, sent out an American exploring expedition. They vis- 
ited the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, discovering this island. 
After trading with the Indians, and learning what they could of 
the country, they returned to England. They gave such glowing 
accounts of the country and what they had seen that Raleigh, the 
next year, sent out a colony under one Lane. They occupied this 



10 Mi Diary. 

island, bu1 after aboul a year, during which time they Buffered 
many hardships, returned to England. A year or two later, an- 
other expedition was semi out. They also settled here, bul after 
a while the leader of ii returned to England for supplies. After 
an absence of a year or two, he again returned here, l»ut 
on landing, no1 a trace of it could be found, :m<l it was 
never after heard from. A later historian, however, says the In- 
dians who lived on the island claimed thai someof their ancestors 
were white people and could talk oul of a book. 

ill mini, FOB RELICS. 

Feb. 25. This being a warm, sunny day, a small partj of us 
thoughl we would take a stroll up to the head of the island, a 
mile or two, and perhaps we mighl find some traces or relics of Ral- 
eigh's expedition. Arriving al our destination,, we discovered a 
large, weather-beaten two-storied house, built at some reunite pe- 
riod, and surrounded by large live oak trees. We had not the 
slightest doubl but thai this was the house buill by Lane and his 
party. Seeing a man standing outside, whom we supposed was 
the gentlemanly proprietor of the ranche, we approached, and 
iting him very respectfully, inquired if he wasinreceipl of any 
recenl advices from Raleigh's expedition. Me looked al us in ut- 
ter astonishment and said he knew nothing about it and reckoned 
ich expedition yere." He said, "Burnside's 
edition was yere," and "reckoned thai was aboul enough;" he 
couldn't see the use of any more coming. We bade the gentle- 
man good day and left. In looking around for. relics, Whipple 
picked up an old shoe heel. Here was a prize surely, a veritable 
relic of Raleigh's party. Whipple put it in his pocket, intending, 
I, to send it to the antiquarian society at Worcester, and 
indulging in the hope thai for presenting such a priceless relic, 
thev would at leasl vote him an honorary member of the society. 
Reli( s I" i e, w enl up t<> the shore where we could l<><>k 

up the Albemarle. The wind was blowing gently down the 
ind the little rollers were breaking on the beach al our 
It was pretti warm; the water lo >ked clear ami really ro- 
bing. Nunc one proposed taking a dip. No sooner said than 
our ch'tlies ami m we plunged. Egad! such a scram- 
ip ,Mid floundering to gel oul is seldom seen. It reminded me 
haskel of lobsters turned into a tub of scalding water. The 
water was ice cold, and I thoughl I should certainly freeze before 
getting out. After getting on my clothes and getting warm, I 
.ink fell or my bath. It was agreed by all hands 

thai Ecbruan was the wrong - 'jison of the year for out-door bath- 
ing. Whipple is despondent, his hopes are dashed. He <--a\\\v t<> 
me and informed he had carefully inspected the shoe heel, 

and found it put together with cul nails, which are a much more 
u1 invention th in Raleigh's expedil ion. 



My Diary. 41 



CHAPTER III. 

WE LEAVE ROANOKE ISLAND. 

March G. Broke camp, leaving our log barracks, and are 

once more aboard our old home, the New York. We were cor- 
dially welcomed by Capt. Clark, Mr. Mulligan and the crew. Mr. 
Mulligan said he knew we were doing our duty on the 8th of Feb- 
ruary by the racket we made and the smoke rising above the tree 
toj >s. 

March 9. A beautiful Sabbath morning, not a ripple dis- 
turbs the smooth surface of the sound. Religious services this 
morning in the saloon; in the afternoon on the promenade deck. 
AH the troops, except one or two regiments, left to garrison the 
island, are again afloat, and the talk now is that Xew'ocrn is the 
next point of attack. 

o\ A SHOAL. 

March 11. This morning the clink of the windlass is 
again heard from all the boats hoisting their anchors. We steam 
out of Croatan into Pamlico sound: so here we go for new con- 
quests. 

The Burnside expedition, it did nut end in smoke: 
It captured Elizabeth City, and the isle of Roanoke. 

About 11 a. m., the New York went on to a shoal and came 
to a dead halt. Here was a pretty fix, stuck right in the middle 
of Pamlico sound. We had the schooner Skirmisher in tow, with 
companies K ami I aboard, lmt they thought they would leave us 
and go it alone. Accordingly they hauled in their hawser, hoist- 
ed sail and left us, sailing with a fair breeze gallantly down the 
sound. Three lar*v steamers hitched on to us, to pull us off. Af- 
ter a good deal of hard work, lots of swearing and breaking haw- 
sers, they finally succeeded, about 4 p. in., in hauling us off. We 
again stalled and dropped anchor at Ilatteras inlet at Id p. m. 

Till: START FOR NEWBERN. 

March 12. This morning weighed anchor and our fleet. 
comprising upwards of .">(i sail, steamed up the Pamlico sound for 
Newbern. After a \'rw hours' sail, large numbers of wild geese 
and ducks attracted our attention. Wide marshes which extend 
into the sound are their feeding ground, and from these they 
make their way a long distance into the sound. These waters ap- 
pear to be their winter quarters. About 3 p.m., we enter the 
Neuse river, which is here about two miles wide. Situated on the 
left bank, thirty miles up the river, is the city of Newbern. 
Slowly we -team up the river, seeing nothing but the low, piney 
shores, and the smoke of the enemy's signal fires. About 8 p. m., 
when 15 miles up the river, in a wide place forming a kind of bay, 
we dropped anchor for the night. The transports lay huddled to- 



42 My Diary. 

gether in the middle of the river, while a cordon of gunboats sur- 
rounds us as a picket. A dark, black nighl has settled down "ii 
ii-. and all is -till and silent as the tomb, Nol a Bound is heard 
or a lighl seen, save the enemy's signal fires, far up the river. 
This stillness is dreadful. It is really oppressive, and seems as 
though it has remained unbroken Bince the morning of creation. 
Our errand here is to make an attempt to occupy the citj of 
Xcwlii i'n. and if anybody attempts to Btop us, there will be a big 
fighl and Bomebody will be hurt . 

I 111 LANDING \M> MARCH. 

March 13. The morning of the 13th was dark and rainy, 
and we m'ade preparations to land. It always rains where we go; 
firsl .it rlatteras, then al Roanoke and now here 1 think we are 
rightly named a water division. 

We landed in a mudhole, a1 the mouth of Slocum's creek. 
Before noon the troops were .'ill landed, and the march commenced. 
The 25th taking the advance, we marched up the river bank 

aboul a mile, the gun-boats shelling the \\ Is in advance of us. 

We then struck into the woods, which presented a novel appear- 
ance. There was no undergrowth, bul ;i short grass covered 
the ground, while masses of long gray moss hung in festoons 
from the branches of the trees, giving them ;i weird and sombre 
appearance. V^Te soon came oul to a cart road, or horse path, 
along which we followed for abouta couple of miles, when we 
came to a deserted cavalry camp. I reckon when they heard 
the sounds of revelry on the river, there was mountings in hot 

haste, and they Sped away tO some safer locality. The clouds 
now broke and the sun shone out hot, which, together with the 
mud, made the march a toilsome one. A little further on. we came 
to the carriage road. Here Foster's brigade halted, to let Reno's 
ami l'arke's brigades move past us. » 

As Parke's brigade marched past us, we saw at the righl of 
one of the companies in the 5th Rhode Island regiment, march- 
ing by the Bide of the orderly, a lady, dressed in a natty suit,with 
high boots and jockey hat, surmounted by a big ostrich feather. 
She was the observed of our whole brigade, and cheer after cheer 
went up along the line for the pretty woman. Continuing our 

march a lit tie fart her we leached - • extensive earthworks, 

which were abandoned, bul for what reason we of course were 
ignorant. Bul we reasoned thai if they build works like these 

and then make no effort to hold them, it -hows they are weak 

and have no confidence in their ability to successfully contend 
againsl us, and Newbern will fall an easy prey. The deep mud 
in the road, together with the heat, began to tell on the 
boys, and many of them were obliged to fall out by the way. 
Our march began to grow slower, and when about dusk, it com- 
menced raining again, we tuned into the wood- at the right of 
the road, where we were to bivouac for the night. Scouting 



My Dim: v. 43 

parties and pickets were sent out in order t<> give notice if any- 
thing unusual was aboul to transpire during the night. Here in 
the soft mud of the swamp, with the rain pouring down onus, 
was our hotel. Mrs. lleinans, in her song of the Pilgrims, said, 

••Amidst the storm they sang." 
But there was no song in that swamp; too tired for supper 
the boys laid themselves down in the mud tcmsleep, and bitterly 
thought of the morrow. Stokes and I roomed together between 
a couple of logs. Taking our rifles and powder between us and 
oovering ourselves closely in the blankets, we were soon fast 
asleep. But lie kept the advantage of me all night, for he is a 
great fellow to pull blankets, and he came out in the morning all 
right and dry, while 1 had been catching the rain. The boys 
slept well, but woke up cold ami wet. There was no time to 
make a cup of coffee, for we were close on the enemy, and the 
order was again to the battle. Wecaught a few hasty mouthfuls 
of cold meat and hardtack, and quietly fell into our places in 
line. 

THE BATTLE. 

We fellows who do the shooting are not counted as any great 
shakes ordinarily, but yesterday morning we seemed to be regard- 
ed as of very great importance, and it took a great amount of 
swearing and hurrying to and fro of aids and hoarse shoutings of 
officers to get us around where we were wanted. We were with- 
in a half mile of the enemy's line, and Reno's and Parke's bri- 
gades were deploying in front of them, on the centre and left of 
our line. Foster's brigade was to take the right, and the 25th 
led off up the road, followed by the 24th Massachusetts and the 
other regiments of the brigade. We soon came in sight of the 
enemy's works, which were only a short rifle-shot from US. 
Reno s and Parke's brigades hail already opened the ball along 
the center and left. We riled out of the road to the right, mov- 
ing towards the river. As we moved out we were honored with 
a salute from one of the enemy's batteries, but the shots passed 
harmlessly over our heads. The boys looked a little wild, but 
with steady step moved on until the 25th ami 24th Massachusetts 
were in line on the right of theroad; the "JTtli and 23d .Massa- 
chusetts and the 10th Connecticut regiments were on the left. 

Foster's brigade was now in line of battle and moving for- 
ward towards the edge of the woods next to the clearing. The 
howitzer battery noV came up, took position in the road, between 

tbe 24th and 27th Massachusetts, ami commenced firing. With 

the exception of the 25th, Foster's brigade then opened tire. 
We were on the extreme right ami well towards the river, seeing 
nothing in front of us to draw our fire. The 24th Massachusetts 
kept up a scattering fire thai kepi tin' enemy well down behind 
their works. 

We were ordered, if possible, to turn the enemy's left. We 



■ 



1 1 



M\ Diary. 



advanced nearly to die edge of the woods, and only a short dis- 
tance from the enemy's line. I was running my eye along il to 
see where and how it ended, expecting ever} momeni to hear the 
order to charge, bul just then the boats commenced throwing 
shell over ns, towards the Confederate line. They had gol a low 
range and their shells were coming dangerously near, splintering 
and cutting off the Mrees, and ploughing greai furrows in the 
ground directly in Fronl of us. In this condition of affairs we 
were compelled to fall back. The boats, however, were soon 
notified of their mistake and ceased firing. We again advanced, 
going over and beyond from where we fell back, when .-ill at once 
we received a galling flank fire fronl an unseen battery. We 
again fell back a few rods, dressing the line and again cau- 
tiously advanced. We now discovered thai their works curved 
and connected with a large water battery, situated jusl in the 
edge of the woods and concealed by the trees, [n the rear of 
this battery werera mnted old 32-pounder marine guns, which gave 
them an enfilading fire of the cleariug in fronl of their works. 
From these, guns they fired grape shot, which w 'ighe 1 aboul four 
pounds each. To charge was hopeless, and in falling back we re- 
ceived another fire from this battery. From these we lost quite 
<'i oumber of men, killed and wounded. 1 had the honor of stop- 
ping one ball myself; it struck a tree, how sver, before it did me. 
Having gol back from under the guns of this battery, Col. Upton 
reported the situation to Gen. Foster, who ordered him to move 
his regimenl to the left of the 24th Massachusetts and support 
the howitzer battery. 

During all this time, however, the battle was raging furiously 
along the centre and lelt. While we wen bothering around on 
the right, a little incidenl occurred,- which perhaps is worth} of 
mention. Lieut. Draper of my company (B), bul now attached 
to the signal corps, reported to Capt. Clark for duty. He said 
there was nothing more for the signal corps to do and he would like 
to take his place in the line. The captain told him he could <lo 
as he liked; he thereupon joined his company, and did duty with 
it tin- resl of the day. Although a young man of only 20 \ 
of age, he has gol the stuff in him <>t' which soldiers are made. 

In front of our battery the eneni} had a large gun which 
commanded the road, and which proved rather troublesome. 
This gun after each discharge was hauled around, and again back 
into position, by a pair of mules. After each discharge a young 
dare-de> il of a marine lieutenanl would run down the road almost 
to the gun, to see what the} were up to. On one of these excur- 
sions he discovered one of the mules down, probabl} from a stray 
-hoi . He came running back up the road like a wild man, swing- 
ing his cap, and shouting at the top of his v'oice : "Come on, 
come on ! for God's sake, come on. Sow is your time !" 

The 25th, without an} other order, sprang forward, followed 
i>\ the 24th Massachusetts and all the line. On the charge they 



My Diary. 15 

men ami women and small children who are nol earning any- 
thing, but still have to be supported. 

A LOOK THROUGH THE I AMPS. 

Dec. I s . I have been looking through the cam]) around h 
and am astonished al the -11111111111 of offal and swill that is buried 
up and lost instead of being turned to a valuable account. An 
enterprising farmer could collect from these camps, manure and 
swill t<> the value of $100 a day. costing nothin ; ly cart- 

ing it off, thus enriching his land and rati 
and cattle ; but this lack of energy and enterprise pn 
peojde from turning anything to account. They content them- 
selves with sitting down and finding fault with the government 
and their more>enterprising and energetic neighb rth. 

A DEPOT OF SUPPLI] , 

Dec. 20. We are having cold weather; freezing |ui1 ■ hard 
at uight, and making our lodgings in these little rag houses any- 
thing I ui comfortable. I have been with a detail of men down 
to the wharf unlo iding and storing army supplies. Annapolis is 
a depot of supplies, and immense quantities are landed here and 
senl by rail to Washi igton. .V person never having gi 
subject of army prep iration an 1 suppli ;s ma 'h thought, v, ^ 

asl onished at the immense quantities he would see here, and would 
begin to calculate how longit would be before Uncle Sam would 
be bankrupt. Large warehouses are filled and breaking down un- 
der the weight of flour, beef, pork, bread, sugar, - lothing, 
ammunition, etc., while the wharves and adjacent grounds are 
tilled with hay, oats, lumber, coal, nuns, mortars, gun-carriages, 
pontoons and other appendages of an army. I presume the cosl 
of feeding and clothing an army of half a million of nun is not 
really so much as the same number of men would cost at home, 
but the army being consumers, instead of pro lucers, the balance 
will eventually be found on the debit page of the Ledger. 

CHRISTMAS. 

Dec. 24. Tomorrow will be Christmas, and the boys in all 
the camps are making great preparations for the coming event. 
The ca?nps are being put in order and decorated with evergreens. 
Some of them are trimmed in good taste and look very ueal and 
pretty. The bc»ysare all looking forward to a good time: I hope 
they will not be disappointed. Santa Clans is expected here to- 
night with our Christmas dinners, but lie maybe delayed and 
nol gel here for a week to cone'. 

Dec. 26. Christmas wen; off very pleasantly and apparently 
to the satisfaction of all. Drills we 1 1 led and all went in 

for a good time. The Irishmen hn icir Christmas box, the 
Germans their song and la; ball playing and other athletic 

sports used up the day, and music an I dancing were the order of 
the evening. Santa Claus cam;' with a Christmas dinner for a few. 



16 M , Diary: 

• ■in i.i — I »y ; h >« 'ver, I i hi ' _ • -nt leman 

US somew here mi i lie wax . 
Our camp was visited by a uumlier of la lies ami gentlemen 
i 1 , who wdiv g.i.Mts a! hen Lpiat I iplain -I amea 

doing the polite, and entertaining them as besl he could. NTo 
farther south than this, I was surprised to hear the chaplain tell 
"i the i«i |ile in regard to northern people and 

their in One lady, uiticing a box of letters in 1 1 1 < • 

chaplain's tent, said she though 1 In liave a ven large cor- 

respondence to have -' many letters. !!<• told her those were 
soldiers' 1 letl lio.net) their friends. "Why," she ask I. 

"are there m. my of your soldiers who can write?" 1 1 <■ informed 
her thai there were not a hall do en men in the regimenl but 
could read and write. He told her thai free schools were an in- 
stitution ai the north. No in in was - > poor bul he could educate 
his children, and the man who neglected their education was re- 
gard) - than the brutes. The lady appeared <|iiitc 
astoui - : ir I an 1 s iid - 1 it our free schools were only for t be 
rich. 

RUMORS. 

Dei . 28. The camp is full of rumors aboul our leaving, bul I 
hardly think any one knows much a'. nut ii as yet, although it is 
quite probable we shall leave before long. The expedition is all 
here and h is been perfecte 1 in drill. N ithing that 1 can 
prevents us from leaving ai any time. When we break this camp 
we can counl our happy time over, thai we have seen our besl 
days of soldiering. Campaign life in the field, as i understand it. is 
ai the besl a life of hardship, privation and danger, and tin- 
man who expects much else, will be grievously disappointed. 

A Ml 1.! DAY. 

.1 w. 1. 1862. The new year is ushered in with a lighl fall 
of ■-now and very cold weather. There is jusl snow enough to 
prev< nt drills or any sports the boys may have been anticipating. 
Altogether the daj will be a dull one. The sutler, anticipating 
our removal, lias uol much to sell or steal. The sutler is regarded 
as the common enemj of the soldier, and when forced contribu- 
tions are levied on him it is considered entirel) legitimate and 
rather a good joke. The boys will have to content themselves 
with card playing ami writing !< tters home. We have just gol a 
new stove running in my tent, and Long Tom is detailed today 

to supply it with wood. I think we shall make i mfortable 

da\ of it. if Tom does Ids duty. Things certainly begin to look 
like leaving; the harbor is full of Vessels, transports, gunboata 
and suppl) ships. Appearances indicate thai somebody will hear 
ii thunder somewhere along the southern coasl before very long. 

ORIiKRS I I ' n: \ \ I-:. 

• Jan. 5. Orders have been issued to break camp and go 
aboard the transports tot -row morning. The bova arc now 



My Diary. 45 

received a heavy tire from the enfilading battery, hut on they 
went, scalingthe ditch and parapet like blackbirds, but no 
enemy was there. Seeing ns coming, they took that as a notice 
to leave, and acted on it immediately. Inside the works, I heard 
Gen. Burnside ask Gen. Foster who gave the order to charge. 
Foster replied lie didn't know, but it made no difference so long- 
as it was done. 

The 25th reformed, and, marching a short distance to the 
real", charged across the railroad, into the swamp, capturing Col; 
Avery and his South Carolina regiment, who were covering the 
retreat. Thus, after five hours 1 hard fighting, ended the battle 
of Newbern. Victory had again perched upon our banners, and 
the cheers of the victors were ringing out on every side. 
Although the battle resulted as I wished, I certainly did not feel 
like glorying for who can compute the woe, anguish and sorrow 
of this day's work? I cannot get over my horror of a battle, 

"Where the death angel flaps his hroad wing o'er the field, 
And human souls go out in agony." 

OUR ENTRANCE INTO XEWBKKX. 

Foster's brigade starts up the railroad for town, leaving 
Reno's and Parke's bi'igades to take care of the field. Cautious- 
ly we moved along, thinking, perhaps, the enemy may have 
formed a second line and are awaiting our approach. It soon 
became apparent, however, that they were making the distance 
between them and us as lung as possible. We then hurried 
along, arriving at the river where the railroad bridge was burned 
which crossed into town. The view from here was an appalling 
one. The railroad bridge, a fine structure upwards of 1500 feet 
in length, was in ruins and the town was on fire in several places. 
Dense clouds of smoke of inky blackness settled like a pall over 
the town, while every few moments the lurid flames, with their 
forked tongues, would leap above the clouds, and the bellowing 
of the gunboats on the river, throwing their large shells over 
the town after the retreating enemy, conspired to make a most 
hideous scene. 

It was near the middle of the afternoon when the old ferry 
boat Curlew (which a few weeks before I had wished sunk) ar- 
rived. On hoard this, Major -McCafferty, with a mixed com- 
pany of about 100 men, with the colors, crossed the river and 
landed on the wharf at the foot of Craven street. These were 
the. first troops ami colors in the city. After landing we 
marched up Craven nearly to Pollock street, when we halted. 
The major did not appear to have any business on hand or in- 
structions to make any, so we waited for further orders or for the 
regiment to join us. 

Here was presented an indescribable scene. A town on 
fire, an invading army entering its gates, the terror-stricken in- 
habitants fleeing in every direction. The negroes were holding a 



46 



!\h Diary 



grand jubilee, Rome of them praying and in their rude way thank- 
in. God for their deliverance ; others, in their wild delight, were 
dancing and singing, while ol hers, with an eye to the main chance, 
were pillaging the stores fin I dwellings. II il in the midst of all 

this appalling tumuli .- 1 1 1 • 1 i fusion, the boys, true t" the natural 

instincts ol the soldier, were looking around to see whal could be 
found in the line of trophies and fresh rations. They soon began 
to come in with their plunder, which the major told them to 
carry back, as lie should allo\* no pillaging while he was in com- 
mand. Presently Stokes comes along bringing a little package. 
The major asked, "Whal have you there?" "Sausages, sir!" 
"Go, carry them back where you gol them from." "] reckon not," 
replied Stokes, "a lady out here gave them to me.*' The major 
was incredulous, bul Stokes offered to show him the lady and let 
her tell it. whei'eupon the former subsides, and Stokes, with a ro- 
guish twinkle of hiseye, jams the package into my haversack, say 
ing, "Sausage for breakfast." I was proud of the boy, to see how 
well he was observing instructions, as I have told him from the 
start that to stand any sorl of a chance as a soldier, he must learn 
to do a righl smart job of stealing, and be able to lie the hair 
righl off a man's head, lie has certainly shown some smart- 
ness, and I doubl if a commissioned officer could have done any 

Letter. 

The regimenl landed at the north side of the city, and aboul 
nighl rejoined us. Our hard day's work was at last finished, the 

nent was dismissed and the companies quartered in any unoc- 
cupied buildings they mighl find. Generals Burnside and Poster, 
with soldier-, citizens and negroes, were putting oul the tires and 
bringing order oul of confusion. Company B was quartered in a 
small house on Craven street, and the boys, although hungry, 
tired and worn down l.y the fatigues of the day, made frolic of 
the evening and celebrated their \ ictory. 

M.via ii 15. The boys came oul this morning, looking a little 
the worse for wear. lame, sore ami stiff; but with a good bumper 
of whiskej to lubricate their stiffened joints, and a little stirring 
around to take the kinks out of their legs, a good breakfast, hot 
coffee, etc.. they soon resumed their normal condition. There is 
nol much doing todaj excepl lying around in quarters or looking 
over the town. Negroes are coming in bj the hundred, and the 
eii\ is full ni soldiers and marines traveling aboul and haA'iug 
things pretty much their ov, n way. Guards arc sent out to patrol 
the streets and assisl Capt. Dan, the provosl marshal, in preserv- 
ing order preparatory to putting on a provost guard and bringing 
the eii\ under law ami order. Some enter] rising party has hoist- 
ed the old Hag on the -pi re of the church on Pollock street. There 
lei it prbudlj wave: let it catch the firsl beams of the morning, 
and let tin' last ray- of the setting sun linger and play amid its 
folds; let it gladden the heart- of ever} lover of liberty and 
lovaltv, and let it be a notice to these deluded ind ill-advised 



My Diary. 47 

people around here, that it will never again give place to their 
traitorous rag of secession. 

WE ATTEND CHURCH. 

March K>. Today, for the first time since we left home, 
Chaplain James held services in a meeting-house. We occupied 
the large house of the Presbyterian society, which was well tilled 
with a miscellaneous congregation of soldiers, sailors, citizens and 
negroes, both men ami women. Col. Upton had improvised a 
choir, and, with the aid of the organ, led the singing. The chap- 
lain preached a very good discourse, and I hardly knew which 
felt the best, he or tile colonel. There are several other meeting- 
houses here, which are or have been occupied by the .Methodist, 
Baptist, Episcopalian, Catholic and rtegro societies. It would 
seem that this people have sometime been a Cod-fearing people, 
hut since Jeff. Davis inaugurated anew regime, every man has 
done that which seemed good in his own sight. Hence we are 
here on this little excursion. 

NEW QUARTERS. 

March 17. It would seem that the people had no thought 
of evacuating the city until the very last moment. When they 
saw that the Philistines were upon them they hastily gathered up 
their valuables and what light articles they could carry on their 
persons, and fled, leaving their houses, stores and property, just 
as they stood. 

Today the several companies of our regiment moved into the 
deserted mansions of the Confederate martyrs, which will be our 
quarters during our stay. Company B went into a two-story 
brick house on East Front street. It has a pretty flower garden 
in, front, with an orchard, vegetable garden and servants' quarters 
in the rear. The house is nicely furnished throughout; the floors, 
halls and stairs are carpeted, as are the chambers. The front 
parlor has upholstered furniture, center table, piano, lace curtains, 
ornaments, gas fixtures, etc. The hack parlor is furnished similar 
to the front, excepting the piano. The basement contains all 
necessary culinary utensils. I don't see bul we are pretty well 
fixed, hut this is only one of the occasional sunny spots in a 
soldier's life. Some of the other companies are quartered in more 
pretentious and better furnished houses, on Pollock, Craven and 
Broad streets. We are nicely settled in the line mansions of the 
lordly fugitives, who hut yesterday ruled these spacious homes 
ami paced the pictured halls. What strange infatuation, border- 
ing on insanity, must have possessed these people, to bring this 
terrible calamity of war upon themselves, thus becoming volunta- 
ry exiles ami strangers from their homes and property. 

LOSS AM) GAIN. 

An account of stock has been taken, and we are now able to 
figure up the losses and gains in the great battle. The 25th lost 



48 Mi Diary. 

four killed and sixteen wounded. The whole Federal 1"-- waa 
100 killed and 198 wounded. The enemy's loss in killed and 
wounded is tiol known, bul probably was no! large, as they were 
behind their works, and all their killed and wounded were ]>ut 
aboard the cars which were waiting on the track. Thej 
about 500 men, taken prisoners, all the guns in their works, :ill 
their field batteries, upward) of I"" guns; besides all their horses, 
camp equipage, a large amounl of ammunition, lnuii muskets and 
a large quantity of commissary and quartermaster's stores. They 
also lost three steamboats, one of which they ran ashore and 
burned, besides quite a quantity of cotton on the wharves which 
they had used in the erectiou of batteries. 

\ i u di i;\ . 

March 20. Newbern, situated al the north confluence of 
the Trenl and Neuse rivers, was, I think, firsl settled by colonists 
from Berne, in Switzerland, and in honor of the old town was 
named New Berne, bul for short, is now pronounced as written. 
The chivalry, in their hasty flight, thoughl to make a Moscow of 
it, and fired it in several places, destroying the long and expen- 
sive railroad bridge across the Trenl river, all the turpentine dis- 
tilleries (save one) of which there was quite a number, and three 
squares of the town, in one of which was the large Planter's 
hotel. The city has a fine water front on the south and easl sides, 
furnishing ample wharfage for shipping and warehouses. It con- 
tains a population of aboul 8000. The streets cross al right an- 
gles, thus forming squares which are compactly builtover. The 
area of the city is much less than many northern towns of 2000 
inhabitants, bul land is scarce here and it doesn'l A>> to waste it for 
building purposes. There are, however, several fine residences 
with ample surroundings. There are tour churches, several halls, 
one academy, one hotel, courl ho ise, jail, post office, printing of- 
fice, and many large wholesale stores and warehouses. There is 
a small cotton mill, manufacturing cotton yarn, alumber mill, one 
turpentine distillery, tannery, gas works, and a large machine shop 
and foundry connected with the railroad depot, at the north side 
of the city. There are two banks here, bul at present they do 
not seem to be doing a regular banking business. Capt. Dan, the 
provosl marshal, occupies the .Merchant"-, while the master of 
transportation occupies the bank of North Carolina. Whether 
the latter bank discounts or not, I am unable to say, bul I know 
thai Capt. Dan does, when there is anything in the bottle. The 
streets are wide and level, set on either side with liand-oine shade 
trees. Altogether i1 is rather a prett} city. Thishasbeena town 
of some commercial importance, having had a large inland and 
coastwise trade, exporting shingles, staves and other lumber to 
tin' West Indies, cotton and naval stores to northern ports, and 
bringing return cargoes of such goods as the market here de- 
manded. 



My Diary. 49 

i am interviewed. 

March 21. Passing along Pollock, above Middle street, to- 
day, I was accosted by a man who was sitting on the veranda of 
his house and invited to come in, as he wished a talk with me. 
Noticing that he was a smart-looking, well-dressed, gentlemanly* 
appearing man, and withal an M. D., according to his sign, I was 
nothing loth to gratify his whim. As I stepped up on the ve- 
randa, he invited me to be seated. After a little commonplace 
talk, he began to inquire about our troops, their number and 
where they were from. I told him only a few of our troops had 
landed, that the river and sound Mere black with them in case they 
should be needed, and nearly all of them were from New En- 
gland, lie said our capture of the city w;is wholly unexpected, 
and at the last moment nearly all the better class of citizens left, 
leaving their houses and property as we found them. He said in 
that he thought they had made a great mistake, as he regarded 
Gen. Burnside as an honorable, high-toned gentleman, who would 
have dealt fairly with them, if they had remained and taken their 
chances, and would have allowed them to go whenever they 
wished. I replied I didn't know how that would have been, but 
I thought they had made another mistake in burning the railroad 
bridge and trying to burn the town. In doing as they have, they 
have shown that they had no regard for their property and they cer- 
tainly cannot expect us to have much for it, although we have 
shown some in putting out the fires and saving it. 

"Yes, I know," he said, "but perhaps they thought they 
would show your people that they were willing to sacrifice their 
property and make a Moscow of it rather than let it fall into your 
hands." 

"Well, sir," said I, "in that they made another mistake, for if 
they had succeeded in burning it, it would have been no Moscow ; 
we should have staid here just the same. Unlike Napoleon, we 
do not need the town ; we care nothing for it ; it is the position 
we want. 1 ' 

"But you seem to occupy it?" 

"Certainly we do, there is no one else to occupy it, and we 
may as well use it as not." 

"Do you propose to have us vacate our premises for your 
use ?" 

"Really, sir, I am not in the secrets of the general, but I pre- 
sume that you and all others will be protected in your persons 
and property, so long as you remain loyal and show no opposition 
to the government." 

"Yes, sir, I supposed it would be something that way. What 
do you propose doing with that cotton down on the wharf." 

"That cotton belonged to the Confederate government, or at 
least they were using it against the Federal government, and like 
other government property it becomes the spoils of war, and 

4 






My Diary. 



some fine morning you will 3ee it going down the river bound for 
Bouie northern manufacturing city. After a few weeks it will be 
back here again iu tin 1 form of tents for tin- use >>t' the army." 

"Then you intend making this a permanenl garrison?" 

"We intend to hold tins position just :i- long as it is of any 
I us." 

"How long do you think this war will continue?" 

"As things look now, I don'l think it can possibly hold more 
than m year longer, it' it duo so Ion 

"Then you think in thai time you can subjugate our people?" 

"Well, sir, my opinion is thai in less than eighteen months, 
every armed Confederate, unless he sooner" 8ur ,- enders, will be 
driven into t he Gulf of M exiei »." 

"You seem to be ver} sanguine in your opinion, sir; bu1 then 
we all have our opinions, and I think after a year you will find 
you have made bul little progress. 1 would like to ask for how 
long you have enlisted ?" 

■•I have enlisted for three years, unless the job is sooner fin- 
ished." 

"Well, sir, if nothing serious happens to you (which I really 
hope there will not), you will serve your three years, and then, 
unless your people give it up, you can again enlist, for I can as- 
sure you that our people will never give it up." 

"You think then, thai with all the odds agaiusl yon. you will 
finally succeed ?" 

•■I cerl linly do : you see you Yankees are going to tire of 
this thing after a spell; you are not used to roughing it. and will 
soon weary of the hardships and privations of a soldier's 
You Yankees had much rather be spinning cotton, making sli 
trading, speculating and t rying to make money, than following the 
occupal ton of a soldier." 

"For a choice, there are probably very few of us who would 
selecl the occupation of a soldier, but you mistake the Yankee 
charai ter entirely, it' you think, having undertaken an;, thing, t hey 
tire of it \rv\ easily. That was no1 the class of men they sprung 
from. I " 1 1 1 ■ \ were an enterprising, untiring class of men; if tl 
had not been, they would never have settled down among the 
rocks and hills of bleak New England and made of il the richest 
rnosl inteUigenl and powerful little piece of territory the sun 
shines on. But, my friend, as all things earthly have an end, 
this will probablj prove no exception, and in the end, your people 
will find tli I the} bav< gottheleasl value received for the money 
paid oiii of any speculation the} ever engaged in, and will still 
find themselvi 3 a pari and parcel of the United States, subjecl to 
all the inks and conditions of the government, in common with 
the res, of the states." 

\ rter omi further talk aboul state rights and state sover- 
1 ignty, in which we could nol agree, he invited me into his house. 
Here, like a true Southern 2 mtleman, he entertained and extended 



My Diary. 51 

hospitalities right royally, and I think we must have sampled his 
best bottle. He told me it was six years old, and from a silver 
goblet, I sipped the best native wine I ever tasted ; it was rich, 
mellow and fruity. He said it was made from a choice variety 
of grape called the Scuppernong. It was really a splendid native 
wine, as so it appeared to me. After some more small talk, I 
bade my new foundfriend good day, and took my leave. 

DARKIES. 

March 25. There are swarms of negroes here. They 
are of all sexes, ages, sizes and conditions. They sit along 
the streets and fences, staring and grinning at every thing they 
see, laughing and chattering together like so many black-birds. 
They have very exaggerated notions of freedom, thinking it 
means freedom from work and a license to do about as they 
please. There is no use trying to get them to work, for if they 
can get their hoe-cake and bacon, it is all they want, and they 
are contented and happy. When a party of them is wanted to 
unload a vessel or do any job of work, the commissary or quar- 
termaster requests the colonel to send along the men. The col- 
on" 1 orders one of the companies to go out and pick them up 
and report with them where they are wanted. A patrol is de- 
tailed and put in charge of a non-commissioned officer who starts 
out to pick up his party. On seeing a good, stout looking fel- 
low, the officer halts his squad, and calling the darky's attention, 
says, '•'•Come here, hoy !" The unsuspecting darky conies grin- 
Lng along up and asks, "Wat 'er want Yr me?" "Fall in here, I 
want you," "Wat I don' 'er want me?" "Well, I want you to 
do something; fall in here,' 1 "0, loir' a gorra, boss, i'se so busy to- 
day i'se couldn't go nohow, i'se go tomorrer suah." "Never 
mind that, fall in here,' 1 and the darky falls in. Ins eyes rolling 
around and his thick lips sticking out, feeling abomt as mad as lie 
well can, doubtless thinking that freedom is no great thing after 
all. 

In that way the whole party is picked up in a few minutes 
and marched off to where they are wanted. They are set to 
work, and at nighl will all promise to he on hand the next morn- 
ing-, "suah.''' The next morning perhaps a few of them will put 
in an appearance, hut the most of them will keep away, and 
another patrol will be sent out to pick up another lot. But I 
think, after a little while, they will learn that freedom means 
something besides idleness and they will feel a willingness to 
work. They have a curious custom of carrying everything on 
their heads, toting they call it, and will tote large or small 
bundles along the street or through a crowd as unconcernedly 
and safely as though it were a basket slung on their arm. 
They will tote a brimming pitcher or tumbler of water without 
spilling scarcely a drop. These darkies are a curious institu- 
tion. 



52 Mv Diary. 

\v E LOSE "I R M UOR. 

A i'i; 1 1 1. I learn thai Major McCafferty lias resigned and is 
going to leave as. I am sorry to learn thai his ambition for fame 
ib so Boon gratified. I think a good deal of the major and shall 
miss liim very much. He is a man of greal good nature and a 
good deal of a humorist, and at times he make- considerable 
sporl for the boys. The major's resignation creates a vacancy 
which, according to military rules will be filled by the ranking 
captain which is ('apt. Picketl of company A. This will change 
tlic formation of the line, bringing company B on the left, and 
ranking second in the line. So, step by step, we ascend the lad- 
der <>t' tame. 

LIVING 1 1 1 ' . 1 1 . 

We an- now living in clover, having little else to <1<> lmt to 
keep ourselves, clothes, arms and equipments clean and in good or- 
der. We do a little guard duty and the rest of thetime is spent in 
reading, writing, card-playing and walking about town, seeing 
the fun and enjoying ourselves. Our rations are of good quality 
and variety. We now have our fresh beef three times a week, 
with all the soft bread we want. With our governmenl rations, 
and what we can buy, such ;ts oysters, t'resh fish, chickens, eggs, 
sweet potatoes, etc., we are running at a high rate of speed. \\ e 
often contrasl this with our life at the inlet. 

ANOTHER CHANGE IN THE LINK. 

April 14. And now another change has occurred, Capt. 
Clark of company 15 has resigned, [f this thing becomes chron- 
ic, I am not quite sure hut I shall resign and go home, and then, 
perhaps, I shall be given a sutler's or horse doctor's commission 
and be sent hack. Capt. Clark's resignation promotes Firsl 
Lieut. Emery to captain. Second Lieut. Draper to first lieutenant, 
and first Sergeant John (i. McCarter to second lieutenant. 
This again changes the formation of the line, and company 1> 
finds itself tenth in rank. This leaves the captain's chances for 
straddling a horse in the rather dim distance, bul then fame, 
like other doubtful things, is "mighty onsartin." 
BEA rill ri. SPR1 S'G. 

The vernal season is now upon ns and nature is arraying her- 
self in her most beautiful robes. The tree- are in leafage, while 
the yards and gardens attract the eye with their almost 
endless variety of plants and flowers. Roses are in greal variety 
many of them remarkable for their size and beauty, changing 
their hues two and three times a day. Beautiful flowering vines 
clamber the verandas and porticos of the houses, sending oul 
their sweel perfume, while the air is tilled with the song of birds 
warbling forth their happiness. This is really a charming little 
city, bul I reckon from neglecl and hard usage from the soldiers, 
it will soon lose its beauty. The migratory birds, such as the 



My Diary. 53 

robin and thrash, took their leave about the middle of March. 
Among the birds of song that remain the mocking bird must be 
ranked ;ts king. He is a noble fellow, not remarkably handsome, 
of a dove color, with a white spot under his wings. He is a noisy, 
loud-voiced fellow, an early riser, commencing his song with the 
first gray streaks of dawn, and he keeps up an incessant flow un- 
til about 8 o'clock, when he seeks the shade for rest and quiet. 
The trees are full of them, and sometimes by the noise they make 
One would think the trees were full of all kinds of birds. When 
he comes down to his tine work, one unconsciously lays aside 
whatever he is doing and listens with delight to his soft warble 
and the low trembling cadence of his sweet trills. 



I GET ARRESTED. 



April 20. Not caring to trouble the captain all the time 
for passes I have got in the habit of going about town on my 
sagacity, and I have not yet discovered but it answers the pur- 
pose as well as a pass, but I was brought up a day or two ago, 
when 1 ran against Charley of company 1), who was standing 
sentinel on the corner of Broad and Middle streets. I was walk- 
ing leisurely along, when coming to Charley's post, he halted me 
and demanded my pass. I said I had not got any. He replied 
if that was the case it was his duty to march me to the provost's 
office. Rather than have any trouble with him, ami to have it 
military in form, I handed him an old pass I happened to have in 
my pocket. He looked at it ami tearing it up, took the position 
of a soldier, saying. "You non-coms are getting too big for your 
clothes, you are putting on altogether too many airs, but I will 
let you know that you can't put them on over me." I said, 
"Perhaps there is a shadow of truth in what you say. Tt is pos- 
sible that they may be somewhat afflicted with inflation, but you 
know I am one of the meek and lowly kind. 11 "You? You are 
the worst pill in the box, you never have a pass, but are all over 
town, in the back rooms of all the sutler's stores and taking more 
liberties and putting on more style than half the commissioned 
'officers." "Now, Charley, that is a sad state of affairs indeed; 
but you are the hist one that has found any fault with it, but if 
you desire the honor of escorting me to the provost's office' you 
can have the job- After you get me there, Old Dan will give 
you the biggest setting up you have had recently. 11 

He marched me over, and as we entered, Old Dan looked up 
and, addressing my escort, asked, "What are you here for ? 
What do you want? 11 "1 found this man running at large with- 
out a pass, and thought it was my duty to bring him here." 
"Without a pass? Was he making any disturbance? 11 "No 
sir. 11 And so you arrest one of your own regiment because 
he happens to be without a pass and then come here to interrupt 
me. If you come here again on such an errand I will put you in 
the guard house. Go to your post." 



54 



My Diakv 



After my escorl had gone oul with a flea in his ear, (apt. 

Dan removed his spectacles, and wiping In- eyes, which a g 1 

deal resembled gashes cul in ripe tomatoes, pointed to the table, 
saying, "1 reckon there is something Ief1 in the bottle, help your- 
self." I <li'l as the captain requested. AfteT chatting a little 
with him. :i couple of officers came in, and I touched my cap, bdde 
the captain good-daj and made my escape. 

poob w III i J I i; LSH. 
Among the white people aboul here, are very few who would 
be ranked among the firsl or even second class. Nearly all of 

them are whal is called the | r white trash or clay-eaters. I am 

told, they actually do eal clay, a habit they contracl like anj other 
bad habit. Now I cannol vouch for the truth of this, never hav- 
ing -••en them eating it, bu1 some of them look as though thai was 
aboul .".II they had to eat. They are an utterly ignoranl set, 
scarcely able to make themselves intelligible, and in many ways 
thej are below the negroes in intelligence and manner of living, 
bul perhaps they are nol w holly to bit me for it, the same princi- 
ple that will < i] »| iihss a black man, will a white one. They are en- 
tirely cul off from the means of acquiring land or an education, 
even though thej wished to. Public schools are unknown here 
and land can only be purchased by the plantation. That leave- 
them in rather a bad li\: poor, shiftless ami ignorant. Their 
highesl ambition is t<> hunt, fish, chink whiskey and toady to their 
masters. ^ ou speak t<> one of them ami he will look at you in a 
listless sorl of way* as though unable or undecided whether to an- 
swer or not. Ask one of them the distance across the river, and 
he will either say he don't know, or --it i- righl smart." Ask one 
of them the distance to an\ place or house nut iii the country, and 
he will tell you it is "a righl smart step," or "you go up yer a 

righl smart step, and you will c e to a creek," ami from tin re 

it will he so many looks and a serei eh ; meaning from the creek 
that number of angles in the road ami as far beyond as the voice 
will reach. Thej do nut seem to have any intelligent idea aboul 
anything, and in talking with the cusses, one scarcely knows 

whether to pity them or he amused. 

s\ i ii' DIPPING. 

The women here have a iilthv babtl of snuff chewing or dip- 
ping as thev call it, and I am told it is practiced more or less by 
all classes of women. The manner of doing i1 is simple enough; 
they take a small st ick <>r twig about i w < > inches long, of a certain 
kind of bush, ami chew one end of it until it becom< - like a brush. 
This i];,\ dip into the snuff and then ] ut it In their mouths. Af- 
ter chewing a while I hey remove t he st ick and expectorate about 

a gill, and repeal the operation. Many of the women among the 

clay-eaters chew plug t ol iacc< » a ml can squirt the juice through 

their teeth as far and as straight as the mosl acc< mplished chewer 
among t he lord- of creal ion. 



My Diary. 55 

GROWING TIRKD. 

April *-!•">. We have now been several weeks in the city and 
the boys are beginning to tire of it. This every-day, humdrum 
life is getting irksome, and the b >ys are anxious for :i change. 
Frequent changes and excitement arc what keeps up the so! lier's 
spirits. In the dull routine and idleness of camp, they grow un- 
easy, homesick and despondent. 

FORT MA COX. 

May 1. Martial law not being a very favorable institution 
for pleasure parties, I presume the usual May day festival is dis- 
pensed with here as I have not seen any parties out or demonstra- 
tions of any kind going on. I should think a .May party here 
might be very successful as the woods abound with wild flowers 
in great variety and beauty. 

Fort Macon surrendered to Gen. Burnside last Friday even- 
ing, after a bombardment of eleven hours. The general succeed- 
ed in getting his siege guns in battery behind some sand ridges 
about half a mile in rear of the fort, unobserved by the garrison, 
and the first notice they had of his presence was a slot from one 
of the guns. After holding out for eleven hours and seeing they 
could make no defense and that there was no chance for escape, 
they hauled down their colors. By this sum nd< r, < ; o guns and 
450 prisoners, with stores and ammunition, have fallen into our 
hands. Their loss was eight killed and twenty wounded. Our 
loss was one killed and five wounded. 

A good story is told in connection with the surrender of this 
fort to the Confederates. After the war broke out and they were 
seizing the forts, a strong force of Confederates, with a great 
flourish of trumpets, presented themselves one morning at the sal- 
lyport of the fort, demanding its immediate and unconditional 
surrender. Now it happened that the only occupants of the fort 
were an old ordnance sergeant and his wife who had keen in 
charge of the property for many years. The old sergeant came 
to the gate, and looking over the crowd, said to the officer in 
command that under the circumstances he thought the garrison 
might as well sum nder, but he would like the privilege of taking 
the old flag and marching out with the honors' of war. To this 
the officer assented and the old sergeant hauled down the flag and 
Winding it around him, he and his wife marched out, greatly to 
the surprise of the officer, who found that they two comprised the 
whole garrison. 

May 8. Our city life is about over; we have orders to break 
up housekeeping here tomorrow and go on a rusticating tour in 
the country. Among the hoys all is speculation as to where we 
are going and what our errand is. 

A TRIP INTO THE COUNTRY. 

May 9. After nearly two months of scrubbing and cleaning, 
with new caps and pants, the 25th regiment stands in column of 



56 



My Diart 



platoons on Pollock street, as ton) a looking regimenl as there is 
in the service. Thecolonel and staff with the band take the 
head of tin' column, and amid the cheers of hundreds of darkies, 
the march commences. Leaving the city we soon enter the 
woods, and after marching about three miles, come oul to a cot- 
ton plantation. Here we make a shorl hall and look over the 
place. It looks rather run down, the house is <>M and oul of re- 
pair, tin 1 negro quarters are buill of Ions, and look as though they 
were hardly habitable. I >i 1 1 I presume everything on a planta- 
tion has to correspond. The gentlemanly proprietor, whoever he 
was, has left, taking with him the besl of his servants, leaving 
here a few old ones to shifl for themselves. 

A few miles further on, we came to another cotton planta- 
tion. This presented a better appearance, a neat cottage house, 
painted white with green blinds, good barns and surroundings. 
The ii igro quarters were comfortable looking houses, built of 
boards, with glass windows, and whitewashed. Tins gentleman 
with liis servants had also gone up the country. Abonl two 
miles further on, at a fork of the road, we found the ITtli Massa- 
chusetts, (' >l. Araory, doing picket <lntv. Here a road branched 
to the righl leading into the woods, which we took, following it 
aboul four miles, coming oul at a small clearing, where was a little 
red house and log barn, with a few negro cabins. This is known 
as the Rod house, and we relieve the 'J-'M Massachusetts, which is 
doing picket duty. And this then is to be our home for a while. 
It certainly is retired and rural, nol another house within four 

miles of us. The clearing is m>t Over twelve Or fifteen acres ill 

extent, with a small creek running through it. Woods to the 

right of us, woods to the left of us, w Is to the front of us, 

woods all around us. This surely must he the place for which 
Com per sighed, when he wrote, 

••< i ! for ;i lodge in 3ome vasi wilderness." 

After letting a little rested from the long march, We pitched 
our t Mils Iu a field a short distance from the house. The colonel 
ami his famiiy, with the band, pitched their camp in the large 
shady yard nexl to the house. The tents up, the picket guard is 
detaile I an I p isted; a part n\ t hem along the road we came up, 
ami connecting with the 17th Massachusetts, a part along the 
road to the right, and connecting with the 27th Massachusetts 
stationed at Bichellor's creek, and the balance along the roads 
ami horse paths leading into Dixie. The tents up, the pickets 
out, dress parade and supper over, I reckon the country must he 
safe for one nighl at least, ami I will improve it by trying to get 
sonic sleep and rest, for it will he jusl my luck to he on the detail 
tomorrow. 

MR. BOGEY. 

May ! 1. Tins place is whal is called a turpentine plantation, 
where the\ gel the pitch from which turpentine is distilled. The 



♦ My Diary. 57 

owner, Mr. Bogey, a harmless, inoffensive old gentleman, claims 
to be a Union man, and I reckon he is, because lie does not run 
away or seem to be afraid of as. lie tells me he owns 2000 acres 
of land, nearly all turpentine forest, and has 111, noil trees running 
piteh. He said the war had ruined him and thinks it has the 
whole south. He said the rebels had taken all but one of his 
horses and about everything else he had that they wanted. His 
niggers had all left him and gone down town. He expected that 
when we came, but cared very little about it, as he had only a few 
and they were about as much trouble and expense to him as they 
were worth. He said he was getting old, his business was all 
broke up and by the time the war was over and things settled he 
would lie too old for anything. I asked him if all those pigs run- 
ning about in the woods were his. He reckoned they were. I 
inquired if he knew how many he had. He couldn't tell exactly, 
but reckoned there was right smart. The thought occurred to 
me that if that was as near as he could tell, if a few of them were 
gobbled they would never be missed, provided the squeal could 
be shut off quick enough. I learn that Gen. Burnside has given 
Mr. Bogey a protection, whatever that is. That perhaps may do 
well enough for him, but I should not want to warrant it a sure 
thing for all these pigs and sheep running about here. 

CAMP BULLOCK. 

Our cam]) is named Camp Bullock, in honor of Alex. H. 
Bullock of Worcester, Mass. Today the boys are busy writing 
letters home, and it troubles them to tell where to date their let- 
ters from. They invent all sorts of names; some of them with a 
romantic turn of mind, date from Camp Rural, Woodlawn, For- 
estdale, Riverdale, etc., but Mason, with a more practical turn of 
mind, dates his from Hell Centre. The boys who were out in the 
woods last night say it is great fun, although they were not dis- 
turbed; there is just enough excitement and mosquitoes to keep 
them from getting drowsy. 

PICKET DUTY. 

May 14. I was out in the woods yesterday and last night 
on picket duty, and picket duty is simply lying around in the 
brush watching the approach of outside parties. Parties ap- 
proaching in the night time and failing to promptly respond -to 
the hail of the picket are given an instantaneous passport to a 
land that is fairer than this. A picket is composed of three or 
more men stationed at convenient distances from each other along 
the roads, horse paths and anywhere an enemy might be sup- 
posed to come. One keeps watch while the others sleep, but 
with the hooting of the owls, sand-fleas, woodticks, lizards and 
mosquitoes, their repose is a good deal disturbed. 

A scouting party. 

Yesterday Col. Upton with a strong scouting party went out 



My Diary. 

tn Tuscarora, a little ham lei about five miles distant, where is the 
enemy's ontpost and where is kept ;i party of observation. On 
the approach of the colonel and his part) they left, bul before 
doing so sel fire ton new steam saw and grain mill which was 
destroyed. Mr. Bogey was a good deal vexed al the destruction 
of this mill. He said it was built only two years ago :it :i cosl of 
00 and was a great accommodation to the people here abouts, 
and he, with other farmers, pul in their money to help build it. 
These people have a greal notion of burning their property on 
ou'* approach. I really cannot understand it. They oUghl to 
know thai it is of no use to us, and in the end will be a sore loss 
tu them. 

WE GO OUT MAKING I ALLS. 

M \ v Ml. For some time paal the pickets of the 17th Massa- 
chusetts have been a good deal troubled by being fired mi in the 
night. Tin- enemy's cavalry would come down, a few of them 
dismount ami creeping up would fire mi them. They would 
sometimes have cow bells with them, in order t<> divert attention 
and gel nearer*. l>nt the boys soon learned tint dodge, ami when 
they heard a cow hell, would draw their straightest bead on it 
ami lei fly. In this state of affairs il was thoughl besl to make 
those fellows a call, and if they wanted anything of us to give 
them an opportunity tu take it. So, yesterday morning, we 
marched out to the Trenl road, when' we joined the 17th Massa- 
chusetts, with five companies of the 3d New York cavalrj ami a 
section of a battery, the whole under command of Col. Amory, 
<>f the 17th. The cavalry taking the advance, we marched up 
the road a couple of miles, coming to a deep gull} or ravine; 
crossing this, the advance c ivalry guard soon came upon the ene- 
my's pickets, driving them in ami beyond their station into a 
swamp, where theA formed an ambuscade, thinking there was 
only a small cavalry force ami that they might capture them. By 
this time the infant ry had come up to t heir rendezvous, which was 
a large, nice house, with ample barn room for their ho: 
Thinking this was too good accommodation for them and too near 
our line, it was sel on lire ami burned. We now heard firing 
ahead and hurried on. They hail closed around the advance 
cavalry guard, and commenced the fight. The other companies 
being clove by soon took a hand in it and were »iving them aboul 
all they wanted when the infantry came up. When they viw the 
infantry and artillery they took to their heels towards Trenton, a 
small \ illage a few miles <li»t an1 . 

('ol. Upton wanted to follow them n|i ami give them some 
more. Imii Col. Amory being in command, thoughl we had accom- 
plished our purpose ami hail better return. In this skirmish the 
enemy losl eighl killed ami two prisoners, one of them wounded. 
Our cavalrj hail two wounded. The wounded men were brought 
<>nt and loaded into an ambulance. Winn they broughl oul the 



My Diary. 59 

wounded rebel they put down the stretcher on which he was lying 
near where I was standing. He was a smooth-faced, fair-haired 
boy, and was moaning piteously with pain from a bullet wound in 
his head, ;m<l asking himself what his mother would say when she 
heard of it. His thoughts turned on his home and of his motherl 
I pitied the boy, hut could not help thinking, as a cavalryman 
told him, hi' should have thought of that before being caught 
here. We arrived back in camp late in the afternoon, tired, hun- 
gry and covered with mud. I reekon they will not disturb our 
pickets any more at present in the way they have done. Creep- 
ing up in the dark and firing on a lone picket is mean and cow- 
ardly. If they want anything of us let them come in force and 
get it; that is proper and honorable. 

REASONING. 

May "20. Lying around here in the woods, hearing no sound 
hut the moaning of the wind through the tree tops, is rather "lull 
business. There is nothing in it that inspires any lofty, rapturous 
thought, and yet it inspires thought, and already one of Mr. Bo- 
gey's sheep has fallen a victim to thoughts inspired by the sough- 
ing of the wind through this dark forest shutting out the day : I 
reckon it will not be necessary to say anything to Mr. Bogey about 
it, as he is a loyal man, and, as the lawyers say, the presumption 
is he would be more than glad to contribute a mutton in suppres- 
sion of this unholy rebellion. 

THE PINE FORESTS. 

The woods here abound in timber of the finest description, 
many of the trees attaining a height of more than KM) feet. It is 
seldom one is seen of more than two feet in diameter at its base, 
tapering but slightly and without limbs for a distance of from 60 
to si) feet. I have seen some that would square fifteen inches, s<> 
feet from the stump. These are the turpentine trees, and the 
pitch, or turpentine as it is called, is obtained by cutting a wide, 
deep box at the base of the tree capable of holding two or three 
quarts of the pitch. From each corner of the box the bark is 
stripped off, coming to a point about three feet above the box. 
This is done when the tree is lirsl boxed. The next year about 
three feet more of the bark is removed, coming to a point as be- 
fore. This process e,"oes on until the tree is blazed for a distance 
of -JO or more feet, and can he done on the east, south and west 
sides of the t rees. The tree will run pitch quite a number of 
years before it dies, and is then called lightwood, and is either 
split up into rails or converted into tar. The pitch that runs into 
the boxes is dipped out into barrels, and is called dip or virgin 
turpentine, while that which adheres to the tree is scraped off and 
is called scrape, aixl is less valuable than the dip. The pitch is 
barreled up and sold to the distillers. Tar is obtained by cutting 
the lightwood into lengths of aboul eight feet and split tine; a 
tunnel-shaped hole is dug in the ground, with the center about 



«><> .My Diary. 

hree feel deep, and from the Renter :i drain runs to :i barrel or 
•vat sunk low enough in the ground to receive the tar as it runs 

from the kiln. The w 1 ib packed in this hole with tin- ends to 

the center, keeping the center lowest ; when all the wood required 
for the kiln is piled up, the Bides and top are plastered over with 
•clay, and the fire kindled on top. The fire smouldering down 
through the pile, tries oul the tar, which settling to the bottom, 
run-- <>iit into the vat, and is then barreled. A kiln will run from 
su/n to twenty barrels according to size. 



M w 28. It has rained almosl constantly for the pasl week, 
and when it rains here in Dixie it is no drizzle, but comes down a 
perfect waterfall, sometimes for twelve hours together, accompa- 
nied with lightning and thunder of the grandest description. 
There is a grandeur in one of these storms at night, when in the 

w Is among the tall pines, far away from the camp on picket, 

thai no person can form much of an idea of unless they have 
been thereto witne^ it. On such a nighl the solitude is awfully 
impressive, the picket stands concealed behind a tree in the drench- 
ing rain, solitary and alone, absorbed onl) in his own reflections 
ami looking out for the lurking foe. The vivid lightning with 
almost continuous Hashes illumines the grand old woods, while 
|>eal after peal of deafening thunder breaks, rolls ami rumbles 
athwart the sky, sending back its echoes, as though an hundred 
batteries filled the air. Although there is :i grandeur beyond de- 
scription on such anight, there are very few of the hoys, how- 
ever, who care enough aboul witnessing it to be very anxious 
abou.1 going. Bu1 it has out to he done, and somebody has gol it 
ti» do, so after the detail is made, they go off cheerfully, consoling 
iihemsalves with tha thougal that they can have all the whiskey 
they want when they gel hack the nexl morning. 



CHAPTEK IV. 



\ CHANGE OF BASE. 



•Ji m: I. And now something else has turned up, and here 
we are encamped just outside the city and behind our batteries. 
Tim order to move took us by surprise, as the firsl notice we had 

Was to pick up our traps and be ready to march in half an hour. 
At the time appointed everything was packed and loaded on the 
wagons and we were on the march. Dark found us here with OUT 

t<-nts up ready for housekeeping, and our coffee boiling for supper. 

All this and a inarch of twelve miles in one af ten n. Two 

companies, (i :md K , are left back for a few days, and are assisted 

by cavalry. All the advance regiments are drawn in behind the 



My Diary. 61 

forts and the whole division, with the exception of three regimental 
are now here. I have heard no reason why the division is con- 
centrated, but perhaps the general expects company and intends 
to be in readiness to give them a right royal reception. Our line 
of defenses extends from the Xeuse to the Trent rivers, a distance 
of about one mile, and on the line are three forts mounting in all 
32 guns. There are also eleven light batteries of six guns each, 
with gunboats on the rivers that have an enfilading range in front 
of the line. With 10,000 troops behind the works, with a wide 
open field in front, it looks as though our position was a pretty 
safe one, and if anybody comes here with any hostile intent, belt 
will begin to fill lp pretty soon after they get within the range of 
our guns. Our life up in the woods, on the whole was rather a 
pleasant one; I reckon the boys rather enjoyed it and were in no 
hurry about leaving. There was less restraint on them, they 
could do a little more as they pleased and were free from the 
drills, parades, red tape and formalities of the regular camp, with 
just enough excitement about it to keep them from getting dreary 
and homesick. 

CAMP OLIVER. 

June 6. We are now in a neatly arranged camp on some- 
what elevated ground at the west side of the. city, and about a 
quarter of a mile to the rear of Fort Totten, a large field fortifi- 
cation mounting twenty heavy guns. A back street runs along 
the left flank, on which is situated the guard quarters, and a line 
of sentinels extends along it. This camp is named Camp Oliver, 
in honor of Gen. Oliver of Salem, Mass., formerly adjutant- 
general of that state. We can now brush ourselves up and settle 
down to the dull routine of camp life — Drills, parades, reviews, 
inspections, guard duty, fatigue duty and all manner of things 
which come under the head of a well ordered camp. Our two 
companies left at Red house are drawn in about five miles, and 
are now at the Jackson place on the Trent road. That brings 
them within easy distance. They can be easily reinforced in case 
of attack or make their own way back to camp. The Red house 
is again in the enemy's country, but Mr. Bogey is not there; be 
thought he had rather live under the old flag and take his chances, 
and so moved with us into town. 

HOT WEATHER. 
June 16. It is so hot most of the time we are scarcely able 
to do anything more than keep ourselves as comfortable as p<>s^ 
ble. All duty is suspended except guard duty and dress parade, 

and we are getting almost too lazy to eat ; in fact do miss a g 1 

many meals unless they happen to have something we like. We 
lie around in our tents or in the shade of the trees from 1) o'clock 
in the morning till 4 in the afternoon, brushing away the flies, 
and trying to keep cool. I thought 1 had seen some flies at home 
but they are no comparison to what we have here. I really lie- 



62 Mi Diary. 

lieve there are more Hies in this camp than there arc in the \\h >le 

state of Massachusetts. Besides they are regular s< sh ones, 

and by the waj ihey bite, one would think he was among a 
nesl "i hornets. I am often reminded of il Id minstrel song: 

••|f you ] erchance in summer i ime 
Should mil « Carolina's Bultry clime, 
Ami in the shade should chance to lie 
\ ou'd -""ii find "in the blue tail il\ .'" 

We were visited lasl evening b) a thunder storm which 
makes ii quite comfortable today. For several days past the 
weather has been verj hot, the thermometer ranging aboul 100 
degrees in the shade. Jusl before suusel lasl evening the clouds 
began to gather and we soon heard the low mutterings of thunder. 
We kiM'w very well whal thai meanl and sel aboul fastening our 
tents by driving down the pins a little firmer. We got ready fonj 
ii jusl iii season, and such a storm! a regular bombardment, with 
rivers of water, lasting aboul two hours. Why our thunder 
storms al home are only a slight skirmish compared with this. 
After four or five days so hoi we can but just live we gel one of 
tlit'sc storms, and then we have one cool, comfortable day. It is 

so < I today I expecl the colonel will have us oul for drill 

towards night. He says when it is cool we must work a little or 
we shall gel so lazy we can't stir, and will forget .-ill we ever knew. 

• DRESS PARADE. 

Nex1 to a good choir of singers, the colonel takes greal pride 
in a dress parade; and he certainly has good ones, as good, per- 
haps, as any regimenl here. The boys like to |>lcasc him and at 
dress parade pul in their besl work, especially if there happens to 
be a good many looking on. They have gol so used to him, thej 
can anticipate the order, an 1 it is executed together as one man. 
[ reckon Gen. Foster thinks pretty well of us, as he is out here 
two or three times a week to witness our dress parades. 

w EXCURSION. 

.1 1 \ i; 29. Companies Cand I '>. together with Capt. Schenck's 
New York battery company as infantry, returned yesterday after- 
noon from an expedition across the Neuse river, having been 
gone three days. We crossed the river Thursday morning, the 
26th, and started oul on a reconnoissance, tour of observation, 
scout, raid or whatever else it might be called, Capt. Schenck in 
command. We penetrated into the country some four or five 
miles, coming oul al a cross road. There in the shade of the 
woods we halted for resl and lunch. Pul out a few pickets to 
prevent surprise, I should think they were out aboul twelve rods 
from the column, which made it comparatively safe. After a 
little time, and while we were having a kind of picnic, there was 
a stir among the pickets in the rear and it was reported they had 
made a capture. 'The authorities went oul to see what was up, 
and so. .n returned with an old horse and cart containing a few 



My Dim: v. 03 

bags of meaj and driven by a couple of grown-up girls, or more 
properly speaking, young ladies. They wen' returning from mill 
and were pretty badly Erightened on finding themselves prisoners 
of war. The officers behaved towards them with tiie utmost gal- 
lantry, assuring them that no harm should come to them. On 
these assurances they were soon comforted and seemed to regard 
it as rather a good joke. After holding them close prisoners of 
war about a couple of hours, they were paroled and allowed to go 
their way. 

We resumed our march and about two miles farther on came 
out at another cross road. Here we left a few pickets and pro- 
ceeding a mile or so farther, came out to Latham's plantation. 
This is the finest plantation 1 have yet seen, a large two-story 
modern-built house, with large, nice lawns and surroundings, the 
road and driveways set with shade ami ornamental trees, and 
everything kept up sleek and nice, showing thrift, wealth and re- 
finement. Here on the lawn in front of the house, we bivouacked 
for the night. This Latham is a battery captain in the Confed- 
erate service, and we had a hack at him, capturing his battery at 
the battle before Xewbern. lie is now somewhere in the Confed- 
eracy, hut just where deponent saith not. Mrs. Latham was 
greatly surprised at seeing us, and had made no preparations to 
receive us. To relieve her embarrassment as much as possible, 
the boys left her to entertain the officers in the mansion while we 
took care of ourselves. The hoys brought from the barn about 
two tons of husks and corn leaves, spreading them under the rose- 
trees on the lawn for beds. They then milked the cows, killed 
the chickens and pigs, emptied the hives of their honey and made 
all necessary preparations for our comfort during our stay. The 
darky women in the kitchen were kept busy with their fry-pans, 
hoe-cakes and coffee-pots until a late hour in the night, and never 
before were there guests at Latham's whom they were more 
pleased to see or more willing to serve. This was truly the land 
flowing with milk and honey, and the hoys revelled in luxury far 
into the night, after which they sought rest and repose under the 
roses. In the morning, the darky women asked if they might 
go with us over to Newbern. They were told they might and to 
pick up their traps ami follow along. As we were about leaving, 
Mrs. Latham inquired of Capt. Schenck who was to pay her for 
the damage we had done. The captain told her to make out her 
hill and one of these days Lncle Sam and Latham would have a 
settlement, and she could then work it in. As we moved out of 
the yard we were joined by the darky women, toting big bundles 
on their heads. Mrs. Latham came running down the lawn, 
shouting after them at the top of her voice, ''Here, Kitty, Peggy, 
Rosa, Dinah, where are you going with those horrid men? Come 
right back here this minute!" The women, looking hack over 
their shoulders and showing immense rows of ivory, replied to 
her, "Goo-bye, missus, goo-bye ! spec we'es gwine ober to New- 



('•4 Mv Diakv. 

bern; goo-bye, missus, goo-bye !" and we marched oft" down the 
road, leaving Mrs. Latham alone to retted on tin- vicissitudes in- 
cident to :i Btate <>)' war. I musl aeeds say, however, that after 
being so hospitably entertained, it was a rascally, mean trick to 
run oft' tin- servants and leave our Bleeping apartments in 
such a disordered condition. But then, Latham had no business 
to lie au:i\ from home. He should have been there, ready to en- 
tertain company . 

Arriving back at the cross roads, we found the boys all right 

and gave them a share of the g 1 things they had been deprived 

of the nighl before. We stayed here all day and night, and not 
seeing or hearing anything, returned to camp yesterday afternoon. 
What the results of this expedition will be, remains fur the fu- 
ture historian t<> record. The trophies were two prisoners of war 
paroled, four darky women, one horse, a big yellow dog and lots 
<>f fun. What the object of this expedition was, I presume will 
always remain among the mysteries of this cruel war, hut there 
is little doubt hut the object was accomplished, as the generals 
.say. 

CELEBRATING THE FOURTH OF JULY. 

.li i.v 5. The Fourth was celebrated with salutes from the 
forts, batteries and gunboats, morning, noon and night. There 
were gala times in Camp Oliver last night. A huge bonfire was 
set from a pyramid of 75 barrels of resin, and when well on tire 
it lighted up the camp in grand style. All the regimental hands 
were present, and under the direction of P. S. Gilmore, leader of 
the 24th Massachusetts regimental hand, were consolidated, ami 
gave a grand concert with artillery accompaniment. The effect 
was very tine. The camp guard was taken off ami all went in 
fur a good time. The parade ground was covered with officers 
ami soldiers from other camps, ami officers and marines from the 
boats ami citizens generally. The delighted darkies were on 
hand in force. It far surpassed anything thej had ever heard or 
dreamed of. They are very fond of music, and gathered in great 
numbers in the vicinity of the bands, never noticing the battery 
which stood a shorl distance away, or if they did it was a sealed 
book to them and a harmless looking battery enough. After the 

hands had played a few selections they struck up Nail Columbia; 
and when in quick Succession three or four of those guns were 
let <i(\\ there was a greal scarcity of darkies. They are terribly 
frightened at artillery firing, and will make the distance between 
themselves and the guns as far ami as quick as possible. The 
celebration was kept up till near midnight; everybody seemed to 
enjoy it and had a good time. If we were behind Boston in ora- 
tions, floral exhibitions and the like of that, we certainly were 

ahead of them in music, salutes and fireworks. 
COMPANY MM II s. 

.hi.Y .;.">. The colonel, thinking that guard duty and dress 



My Dim; v. 65 

parades are not quite exercise enough for as, has ordered Company 

drills in the forenoon. The company officers do not take 
kindly to this, and thinking it a good opportunity to give the 
sergeants a little practice in drilling the companies, they shirk out 
of it every time they can invent an excuse to do so. The con 
panics are seen out under command of the orderlies or some other 
of the sergeants frequently. B company moves out of the com- 
pany street on to the parade ground, and after executing a few 
brilliant maneuvers, starts off across the fields to the Trent road, 
a little out of sight of the camp, and here in the shade of the 
trees we sit down and await the recall, when we march hack into 
camp with all the pomp and circumstance of glorious war. The 
duty has been performed and everybody seems well enough satis- 
fied, except perhaps the performers. 

• PATRIOTISM SUPPRESSED. 

And now, right here under the broad banner of freedom, 
personal liberty and rising patriotism has been suppressed. A 
party of small darky boys organized themselves into a drum 
corps and furnished themselves with old tin pans and kettles for 
an outfit. Being natural musicians, they soon acquired the art of 
drumming, and when they thought they could make a creditable 
appearance before the public appeared one evening, standing just 
outside the guard in front of our dress parade. When the hand 
led off down the line the little fellows commenced putting in 
their work, and they certainly did a good job, as the)' beal the 
time very well. I Jut the thing was so ludicrous it was with 
difficulty the hand could perform their part, am! many of the hoys 
in the line could not restrain their laughter. The little fellows 
seemed to enjoy it immensely, and would (flit in an appearance 
every evening, until the^jdoncl finding it impossible to have a 
decent dress parade ordered the guard officers to suppress the 
amateur band, very much I presum • against his inclination and 
feelings. 

MiSS FOSTER. 

Gen. Foster ha- his wif< and daughter with him here, which 
must make it very agreeable for him. Mrs. Foster is engaged in 
works of love raid mercy around the hospitals, while Miss Foster,, 
a young lady of some Hi or 17 years, is pretty much engaged in 
horseback riding and having a good time generally. She is quite 
a military character, a- we notice that when she and the general 
ride past here, she always returns the salutes from the sentinels as 
gracefully as the general. Sim frequently rides past here alone, 
and the Rentinels along the street take great pride in honoring 
her with a presi nt arms, a complim ait which she never fails to 
acknowledge by a graceful wave of her hand and her face wreathed 
with smih s. 

5 



i;i; 



M\ Diary. 



I ■ . ' I ON I II I KKTIKEI) I Is i . 

Auousi "J". Until recently I have been quite a popular 
commander of Sunday church parties. The boys would gel up 
their parties and gel me a pass to take them into town to church. 
I would take them in and, halting on some convenient corner, 
would deliver myself of a little speech. ! would say, "Boys, ] 
h.i\ • always believed in the largesi tolerance in matters of relig- 
ion and politics, and as much as I should like to have yon attend 
church with me, if you have any preferenei s you are al liberty to 
enjoy them : tar be il from me to impose my authority on vouu 
feelings or conscience. 1 shall expeel you on the corner al the 
appointed time that we may reporl back in camp in season for 
dress parade." Now, it' they couldn't have had a tolerably good 
time under those conditions, it certainly was no faull of mine. 
i > 1 1 1 this, like every other good thing, could not always last. 
Our Sunday afternoon, when we gathi red <>n the corner, one of 
the party failed to put in an appearance. After waiting beyond 
a reasonable time, he was defaulted and we returned to camp. 
About night he came in, showing unmistakable signs of having 
been on the hardest kind of fatigue duty. Instead of going to 
liis quarters as he was told i< i , he thoughi it w is his duty t<> inter- 
view the captain. Thai interview resulted in a court martial, 
before which I was ordered to appear. I was asked numerous 
questions, all of which I answered to the besl of ray knowle 
and belief, and my evidence no1 only convicted the prisoner but 
reflected soinewhal on myself, for in summing it up, they some- 
how fixed it up in sih-Ii a way as to make it appear that I was in 
the practice of taking parties into town on Sun lays, ostensibly to 
church and then letting them go wherever they pleased, and in- 
quired of me if thai was no1 about ™- true solution <>t' the prob- 
lem. Wishing to avoid controversy, I assented. I was then told 
that I could retire from that augusl presence, a privilege of which 
I availed myself immediately, bul what I noticed as being rather 
singular, after thai little interview 1 was in command of no more 
Sunday part i< s. 

w i; LOSK OUR BANDS. 

Sept. 20. All the regimental hands have been mustered out 
and have gone home. Ours left the first of this month, and it 
seems quite lonely t<> have them gone. They were the solace of 
man) a weary hour. I understand that this is in the interest of 
economy, the bands costing so much it was thoughi besl to let 

them go. I aU,> learn that the officers' pa) has been raised, s,, 
just where the saving comes in does nol appear. As I am only 
an enlisted man I am nol supposed to see things quite so clearly, 
so I presume ii is all righl any way, bul we think it is rather 
sharp economy . 



My Diary. G7 

A TRIP TO PLYMOUTH, X. C. 

On the 15th of this month, the 25th, Major Pickett in com- 
mand, with the ITtli Massachusetts and the loth Connecticut reg- 
iments, the whole under command of Col. (Jpton, embai'ked on 
steamers bound for Plymouth, on the Roanoke river which emp- 
ties into the Albemarle sound at its extreme western end. On 
the" morning of the 16th we passed Roanoke island, and our at- 
tention was attracted towards il as being the scene of our first 
conflict and success. We soon afterward entered the Albemarle 
sound, a beautiful sheet of water running east and weft, about 70 
miles long with an average width of some "20 miles. It was a 
beautiful day. and the sail, as we slowly steamed along, was de- 
lightful, affording us a fine view of the shores. The shores were 
in striking contrast ; the south shore is low and swampy, rising 
scarcely ou1 of the water, while the north is bold, with a gently 
rising slope and shows many handsome farms. The scenery here 
is the first that lias reminded us of home, and looks as though it 
was inhabited by a better class of people than we have yel seen. 

About dusk we reach the upper end of the sound, and 
turning sharply to the left, enter the woods, where the overhang- 
ing branches of the tall trees seem almost to embrace each 
other. We are now in the Roanoke river, which is here quite 
narrow. In the dusk of the evening, as we grope our way along 
the narrow channel through the trees, the scenery is grandly 
wild. Some five or six miles through the woods brought us to 
the little town of Plymouth, situated on the left or south hank of 
the river. Here we drop anchor for the night, and wait until 
morning to learn more of our excursion. 

The next morning we learned the expedition had been given 
up, and we steamed back down the river on our return trip, with- 
out scarcely getting a glimpse of Plymouth. On coming out into 
the sound we could see 1 he little town of Edenton on the north 
shore, hid away in a little nook of the sound, and almost buried 
in trees. From our standpoint it looked like a charming little 
town. It is occasionally occupied by our troops and the gunboats 
make frequent calls there. The only setback to the pleasure of 
the trip down the sound was the annoyance caused the officers by 
the hilarity of the hoys who entered into the spirit of fun and 
seemed to lie bent on having a general good time. The officers 
occupied the saloon and were greatly disturbed by the noise and 
racket on deck over their heads. They would often send up and 
order the hoys to keep more quiet as the noise disturbed them. 
The hoys of course would respect their wishes, and for a time all 
would he quiet, but soon another party would come on deck, from 
some other part of the boat, and bedlam would again break loose. 
The officers had my commiseration ; I exercised all my authority 
to preserve order and would willingly have done anything that 



68 Mi Diary. 

lay in my power to have alleviated their Bufferings, For it Lb nol 
surprising thai nun broughl up in machine Bhops, rolling mills, 
foundries and like places should be possessed of rather sensitive 
nen es. 

We arrived back al NTewbern, the morning of the 18th, 
having had a pleaRanl excursion of aboul Inn miles, and if we 
could have had our band with us the thing would have been com- 
plete. It seems the object of our visil to Plymouth was for the 
officers of the expedition to consul 1 with the military and naval 
officers al thai station in regard to the expediency of dislodging 
the enemy's forces al Rainbow bluff, a poinl some 30 miles up the 
river, which prevents our boats from ascending higher up, and 
which they cannol shell out. At the council of officers it was 
decided thai it' we should succeed in capturing it.it would be 
without results, ;is it is of no military consequence to us. and thai 
it would In' unwise to risk men in :in enterprise thai would be 
barren in results. Hence our return to Newbern. 

COL. I 1' I "\ |,|.; \ VES US. 

< )ci'. 29. Our regimenl is now lefl with only one field officer, 
Major Pickett. Col. Upton lefl as yesterday and Lieut. Col. 
Sprague and Adjutanl darkness lefl us two weeks ago. Lieut. 
Col. Sprague lefl to take command of ;i nine months' regimenl 
already recruited in the citj of Worcester. Adjutanl Harkness 
is commissioned major of the same regiment. Col. [Jpton resigned 
on accounl of failing health, which I hope he may speedily recover 
after reaching home. All three <>t' these officers have had the 
confidence and resped of the regimenl inamarked degree, and 
our besl wishes attend them in other fields. As a slight token of 
their regard for Col. [Jpton, the enlisted men are having 
manufactured a $1000 sword, which they intend to presenl to 
him. Major Picketl will succeed to the colonelcy, and according 
to military usage, Capt. Moulton of company H will be lieutenant 
colonel and Capt. Atwood of company C will be major. This 
will till the field again, and occasion some changes and promo- 
tions in the line. I reckon it' I was of an ambitious turn of 
mind, I si hi aspire to some of these places of honor and emolu- 
ment, hut remembering the promise thai whoever humbleth him- 
self shall be exalted, I will continue \>> wail on. 

LtEINFORl EMENTS. 

Massachusetts boys are getting thick .-is blueberries about 
here, and we are glad to see them. Three regiments of nine 
months' troops have jusl arrived, the 3d, 5th and llth regi- 
ments, :iml I hear thai more are coming. A good many of the 
new comers have called on us and Beem desirous <>t' making our 
acquaintance, to which we are nol averse, seeing the) are good 
appearing fellows and have plenty of money, which is nol a bad 
qualification, especially when introduced t<> the sutler. I learn 



My Diary. 69 

that Gen. Foster leaves tomorrow on an expedition, taking 
with him nearly all the force here, including the three new regi- 
ments. That will be breaking them in pretty quick after getting 
here. They, of course, have not had much drill and probably 
half of them never tired a gun. But to us, a little trip up the 
country is cheering news. After being shut up in camp so long 
any change is gladly accepted. 

THE TA.RBORO MAIM II. 

Nov. 12. On the morning of Oct. 30, Major Pickett, with 
six companies (the other four being on picket up the Trent road), 
left Newbern, embarking on the steamer Highlander for Wash- 
ington on the Pamlico river. Here we joined Gen. Foster's ex- 
pedition for a raid up the country. The force consisted of the 
17th, 23d, 24th and 25th Massachusetts and loth Connecticut regi- 
ments of three years' troops, and the 3d, 5th and 44th Massachu- 
setts regiments of nine months 1 troops, with five batteries of the 
3d Xew York artillery, Capt. Belgers' Rhode Island battery and 
seven companies of the 3d New York cavalry, besides a heavy 
wagon and ambulance train. 

On Sunday morning Nov. 2, the expedition left Washington 
rfor a march across the country to the Roanoke river. The 23d 
and 25th were detailed as guard over the wagon and ambulance 
train. We marched through a poor and sparsely populated sec- 
tion of country without interruption or anything to create ex- 
citement, until about the middle of the afternoon, when we heard 
firing on the advance. They had reached a swamp of considera- 
ble width, with a small creek running across and overflowing the 
road for quite a distance. At this point two regiments of the 
enemy disputed the passage of the swamp, and a brisk infantry 
and artillery fire commenced, which lasted with short intervals 
for an hour or more, when the cavalry and two batteries charged 
across. The enemy beat a precipitate retreat, greatly accelarated 
by shells from the batteries. Our loss was small, not over a dozen 
killed and wounded, and most of these were from the 44th Mas- 
sachusetts, which behaved nobly. 

During tins skirmish the wagon train made slow progress, 
advancing a short distance and then halting. It was late in the 
evening when we reached the swamp. All the troops were on 
the other side, but we got orders to halt where we were over 
night. The mules were U'A and we made a supper of cold meat, 
hardtack and coffee, after which we lay down by the side of the 

fence tO sleep. 

MILKS IN A MUDHOLE. 

Next morning the mule teams commenced the passage of the 

swamp and mudhole. Hearing a great noise and shouting, 1 went 

down to see what was up. I mounted the rude foot bridge at the 

side, improvised for the benefit of pedestrians, and walked along 



Mi Diary. 



until I w.i- near the middle of the mudhole and where the creek 
crossed the road. Here was a file of men on each side of the 
road, armed with hoop-poles and standing in mud and water from 
six inches to three feel deep. When a team was driven in, it re- 
ceived all necessary encouragemenl from the hoop-poles and 
>ng lungs of the men while running the gauntlet, [f the pilot 
was skilful and kepi on the corduroy, the passage would he made 
before the mules would gel discouraged. Sometimes the mules 
would gel off the corduroy, I »ut if the wagon kepi on, the mul is 
would manage to flounder back and go on. After :i spell a care- 
less driver ran his wagon off the corduroy and down il went to the 
axle. Here was a pretty fix. The mules couldn'1 haul it oul .• 1 1 1 < L 
no other team could get by. It was decided to unload the wagon, 
so the mules could pull il out. The l6ad,. consisting of beef and 
hardtack, was dumped into the creek, but the mules knew nothing 
of this arrangement, they only knew they were hopelessly stuck, 
and when they were appealed to to haul oul the wagon, they ob- 
stinately refused; bracing oul their forelegs and sticking their 
ears straighl up in the air, they seemed t<> proclaim themselves a 
fixture. No amount of swearing and belaboring them with hoop- 
poles had the slightest effect. Capt. Schenck, who was standing 
lis watching the fun, told them he would hitch on one of his 
teams and haul them out. The captain had a battery of 20-pound- 

er Napoleon guns, with teams of eighl heavy horses. II 'dered 

in one of the teams and told them to hitch on to the mules, and when 
all was ready, he would g^ive the order. When all was ready, the 

...,,.(.,;., ,-..l'l..,l ..I.' .....l i. r- 'pi . l i ..,..'.. i: 



ney came down on their heads; m tins way, sometimes under 
water and sometimes out, kicking and floundering, trying to re- 
gain their feet, they were dragged oul through the mudhole, to 
the greal delighl and amusement of the captain and all other 
spectators. 

This place is known as Eiawls' .Mills creek, and thai a grate- 
ful posterity may better understand the situation, I quote from 
Longfellow or some ol her fellow : 



Then the muels strove and tugged 

I'p t he hillside- steep and rugged. 
Till i hej came unto a mudhole ; 
This was aarj a common puddle, 
< »ne ii was h it lieiii a bottom, 
lute w hieh the muels, rol "em. 

• v er\ far deluded, 
\ni hing bul t heir ears prol ruded, 
Picl uring In ;i -it tial ion 

Uncle Ahe's administration. 



My Diary. 71 



DARKIES AND MULES. 



All the teams across, the march was resumed through a much 
better country, and we reached Williamston on the Itoauoke riv- 
er, aboul noon. Oar teams are four horse and six mule tenuis. 
Some of the mule teams are driven by darkies, who sit on the 
nigh hind mule and pilot the crafl by means of a single line run- 
ning to the leaders, called a jerk line. With this line and their 
peculiar mule dialect, they handle the team admirably. I> rkies 
and mules work together naturally ; they understand each other 
perfectly and have the same dialect. Take a mule team that a 
white man can do nothing with, and let a darky come along and 
speak to them; in a minute they are entirely different animals 
and as docile as a kitten. They seem to haw- a love for him and 
are perfectly cognizant of all his actions and movements. It a 
darky while driving falls asleep, the unties know it in a minute 
and will stop. The leaders will face about and commence tan- 
gling themselves up in the chains and ge; rirg of the next pair, and 
that will go on until some one hits the nig . sr on his head with a 
pine knot or lump of day, waking him up. He will give the line 
a few jerks and call out to the mules in their language, and they 
will untangle themselves, straighten <>ut and go on as though 
nothing had happened. Niggers and mules are a great institution. 

Williamston is a pretty little town of about 1200 or 1500 
inhabitants, nearly all of whom had left, leaving it to the tender 
mercies of an army; of course what was left lying around loose 
was gobbled up. When the wagon train marched through, the 
boys were trying the chickens and pigs in the streets, and proba- 
bly the houses and stores contributed to their wants. The train 
halted just outside the town till about 4 p. m., when we again re- 
sumed the march, going up the Hamilton road. We went up 
this road about ten miles, and bivouacked in a large field of corn 
about ID p. m. This afforded abundant forage for our horses ami 
mules, also good beds and lives for ourselves. This day's march 
was through a fine section of country and without opposition. A 
great quantity of corn was yet unharvested and a few barnsful of 
harvested corn which we found was set on fire, as being the best 
and quickesl way to market it. 

PLANTATION D \\< K. 

Soon after we got into cam]', a few darkies were seen lurk- 
ing around, not knowing exactly whether it would do to come 
too near. But their fears were soon dispelled by a few darkies 
who were with us, telling them "de Yankees are our frien's," and 
to come right along. They soon began to flock into camp, and 
in a little while a hundred or more had come in. After the boys 
had their suppers, large tires were kindled, around which 200 or 
300 of the boys formed a ring and getting thirty or forty of these 



I _ 



My Diary. 



darkies, men and women, inside, Bet them to dancing. They 
were tree then and seemed anxious to 'I" anything to please the 

boys and keep on g I terms with them. Three or four "t" them 

would pal the time and the resl would dance. The\ seemed to 
enjoy the fun as much as the spectators. Here was a genuine 
plantation dance in costume; men and women were dressed in 
well-worn garmi nts of gunny cloth or Kentucky jeans, with enor- 
mous brogan shoes of russel leather, some of them looking as 
though they had a whole tannery on their feet. Some of the old 
ones were :i little lame and would try to gel rid of dancing by 
Baying they <li<ln't know how, bnl the boys would tell them they 
did and thai they musl go in. It was greal sport to watch the 
antics they cul up trying to dance. The next morning this field 
of corn comprising nearly or quite fifty acres, was nicely harvest- 
ed. I don'l think ten bushels could have been saved from it. 

RAINBOW BLUFF. 

On the march :it sunrise; just before noon we came oul of 
the woods into an open country and in full view of the famous 
Rainbow bluff of which we had heard so much. The batteries 
were soon in position and skirmishers were senl oul to examine 
the situation. After a time word came back thai no enemy was 
near, the batteries limbered up and the march resumed. We 
were soon on the bluff, which was well fortified on the river and 
easl si li s bul quite defens 'less in the rear; it would have been an 
easy matter to have shelled oul an enemy had there been one 
there. Here we bund our gunboal Heel which had come up and 
was going to keep us company higher up the river. After de- 
stroying these works we moved on, reaching the little town of 
Hamilton aboul 2 p. in., and halted just outside. Here we were 
to stop three or four hours for resl and dinner. 

\ priv \tk din m:i: par iy. 

I suggested to Doctor Ben thai it would be a good plan to 
forage our dinner; to this he assented and said it' I could find 
some sweel potatoes he would furnish the chicken or pig. We 
Btarted out, going up town; here we separated, each one to <>l>- 
tain his share of the dinner and then meel again on the corner. 
I w i- uol long in finding a garden in which grew the potal 
making a break in the fence I soon filled m\ haversack, and 
returning to tin* corner, waited for the doctor. Great was my 
to soon se ■ him <■ uning down the streel with a hen 
dangling by the legs, and in charge of an ofiii the guard, 

going in the direction • i ral's headquarters, on the veran- 

da "i which he : ting. Being an interested 

party, I thoughl I would attend the conference. The officer 
preferred his charges, uid Capt. Din, the provosl marshal, com- 
menced the trial, lie <ii>l noi seem t" <re1 very much interested 



My Diary. 73 

in it, and the doctor was getting along nicely with it, until the 
genera] began a cross examination by asking him it' he had not 
heard the order in regard to foraging? The doctor admitted 
that he had. "How then does it happen that you do not observe 
it?" This was a pretty close question and I began to tremble for 
him, but he proved equal to the emergency; after waiting a 
moment he looked up and said, "General, this rebellion has got to 
be crushed if it takes every hen in North Carolina." A smile lit 
up the face of the general, who asked, "Where is your regiment?" 
"Just beyond here, sir." "Go to it, my boy, and get your dinner 
and be ready to march in a couple of hours or so. 1 ' We started, 
congratulating each other over the fortunate turn affairs had taken. 
We had a good dinner, and were well rested when the order came 
to inarch, about 6 p. m. 

BURNING OF HAMILTON. 

This was a small town about half as large as Williamston, 
and like all other southern towns I have seen was built all in a 
heap. The inhabitants all left on our approach, and exhibited 
a bad feeling by cutting their well ropes and rilling the wells 
with rubbish. This so incensed the boys that on leaving they set 
the town on tire, ami we marched away by the light of it. A 
tramp of five or six miles up the Weldon road brought us to a 
plantation on which was a big cornfield. Into this we filed and 
put up for the night. Here again was forage for the team and 
cavalry horses and material for beds and fires. Our force of 
darkies was greatly augmented, they came in by hundreds, and 
after we had our supper the plantation dance was in order. 

TIIK GUNBOATS THUNDERING UP THE RIVER. 

The gunboats had come up the river, and were now working 
their way towards Halifax, causing, I presume, the people of that 
town a terrible fright. They would fire an occasional shot as an 
advance notice of their coming, and on the still night air the 
boom of the big guns far up the river was wafted back to our 
camp. 

NOT SEEKING A FIGHT. 

They were expecting us at Halifax and Weldon and were 
making preparations to receive us, but the general was not up in 
that part of the country looking for a fight. A battle up there 
would have been without results to us, unless it was the loss of 
men. lie was up there simply looking over the country, picking 
up a few horses and mules and helping the planters do their har- 
vesting. The general, not caring to go where they were expect- 
ing him, the next morning turned his course across the country 
towards Tarboro, a town on the Tar river, some twenty miles 
west, hoping to reach there before the enemy could concentrate 
their forces againsl him. 



Mv Diary 



a RICH ' • •! <TRY. 

This day's march was through a rich and fertile sectiou of 
country, abounding in large, rich plantations, affording plentj of 
luxuries for the boys and a great many horses and mules for the 
use of the army. The contrabands Hocked in droves to our 
standard, and were verj useful in carrying our blankets, filling 
canteens, foraging chickens and pigs,.toting rails for the fires, 
and in many other ways. We harvested a large field of corn .it 
noon and burned several barnfuls during the day, reaching i amp 
late in the evening, some five or six miles from Tarboro. A 
heavy northeasl rain storm set in during the night, and we could 
hear the cars running, bringing troops into Tarboro. Scout- 
ing parties were senl <>ut to reconnoitre the enemy's force and 
position, and reported they were in force and fortified between us 
ami the town. As the general's errand up through this pari of 
the country was more for observation than fight, he thoughl with 
hie small force of infantry (and a part <>(' thai new troops) and 
with a cumbersome wagon train, he had better acl on the defen- 
sive, and early the nexl morning ordered a retreat. 

THE RETREAT. 

The morning was dark and dreary. With a heavy north 
rain storm blowing, the enemy in force in fronl of us and expect- 
ing an attack on our rear, when the ret real commenced our 
prospects were anything bu1 flattering. Quietly the order was 
given for the wagons to starl and make the time as Bhorl as 
possible back some eight miles to an old church and cross roads, 
pasl which we had come the day before, and there await further 
ordei'S. Three companies of cavalry preceded us as an advance 
guard. The road was very muddy and the traveling hard, but 
thai made no difference; the teams were urged forward ami the 
boys exhibited remarkable enterprise in getting over the road. 
I thought 1 had never seen our boys m »re interested in anything 
than they were in this. Nol even applejack nor all the luxuries 
thai lay scattered ahum- their pathway had any charms for them. 
Their whole bouIs seemed centered on the old church, and they 
wen- thorougly absorbed in their efforts to reach it. I don't be- 
lieve they ever took half su much interest before in going to a 
church. The old church and cross roads were reached before 
noon, and we anxiously awaited the arrival of the general. Nol 
hearing any firing in the rear we concluded they were lying for 
ns at some other point, if the} were intending an attack <>n us. 
The cavalry informed us thai the bridge across the creek oul in 
the swamp, over which we crossed the day before, was taken up 
and things looked as though somebody mighl be waiting for us 
on the other side. The troops were now coming up, and a couple 
of batteries dashed past us, down the road into the swamp. The 



My Diary. 7& 

genera] soon nunc up and seemed quite pleased that he had 
gained this poinl without opposition, and thought there would be 
no further trouble. 

The commander is a practical engineer, and can map with 
his eye the country as he passes through it, picking out the strong 
and weak positions, moving his troops in this or the other direc- 
tion, holding such roads and positions as he thinks will give him 
an advantage^ and when a movement is ordered, it is entered on 
by his troops with full confidence of success. Two roads branched 
from the one we were on, one taking a north-easterly direction,, 
the other a north-westerly. Tp these roads the cavalry were sent 
to make a reconnoissance. The pioneer corps was ordered down 
to the creek, over which the bridge had been taken up, and com- 
menced felling trees as though they intended t<» rebuild it. After 
an hour"-- ride, the cavalry returned and reported everything all 
right, A part of the infantry and artillery now took the advance, 
going up the north-easterly road, followed by the wagon train, 
while the balance of the troops broughl up the rear. While this 
was g ting on, the sharp ring of the axes could he heard out in the 
swamp us though that was the intended route, hut after the col- 
umn had got well under way, the pioneers abandoned their job 
and followed along. The route lay through an open country, 
easy of defence, and if anybody was waiting for us on the other 
side of the swamp (as we have since learned there was), they got 
nicely fooled. About night we reached the site where two days 
before stood the town of Hamilton. Nothing remained hut a few 
scattered rookeries on the outskirts occupied by negroes. There 
was, however, one small two story building standing a little apart 
from the others, which was saved, and into this went company 1>. 
taking the up-stsirs tenement, while the lower one was occupied 
by a company of the 5th Massachusetts. The night was cold and 
stormy, snowing quite heavily, and the little army was obliged to 
stand it or find shelter as best they could. I reckon the hoys 
wdio set the fires bitterly repented of their acts, as they must have 
suffered much, and a good many of them were worn down and 
sick from the long march. 

By morning the storm had abated, but there were about two- 
inches of soft snow or slush, and some of the hoys were barefoot, 
having worn out their shoes, and a good many were nearly or 
quite sick. The surgeons looked over their regiments, sending 
the sick and hare-looted aboard the gunboats for Plymouth, for 
which place the troops were hound. 

The order of exercises for today was a march back to Wil- 
liamston, which I very much regretted not being able to do, as I 
rather enjoy these rambles through the country and feel disap- 
pointed when I cann >t go, hut I hail been a little under the- 
weather for a day or tw », an I was sent with the others aboard 
the little gunboat Hetzel, where we were greatly sympathized 



J6 \\\ Diary. 

with by the marines, who seemed to think we bad had a pretty 
bard time of it, and who showed us ever) favor ;m<l indulgence 
thai lay in their power. The boats steamed slowly down the riv- 
«er, keeping along with the army, and arriving .-it Plymouth on the 
ifternoon of the LOth, having made a two weeks' excursion. 

i ii i i.i -i i r. 

I reckon the landed nobility up the country through which 
traveled will never care to see another excursion of the same 
kind. Thej probably by this time begin to think thai war is not 
bo prettj a pastime, and the Confederate commissariat can mourn 
the loss of many thousand bushels of corn. We made a desola- 
tion of the country through which we passed, and thai proud ;iri>- 
tocracy can now look over their desolate fields, and in vain call 
the roll of their slaves; can sit down and make a nice calculation 
i»t' h'>\\ much better off they are under their Confederacy than 
they would have been had they remained loyal to the old flag. 
We cleaned up pretty much everything there was, bringing 1 > .- 1 < • 1< 
with us upwards of LOOO negroes and several hundred horses and 
mules. 

Coming down the river we run pasl whal appeared to be a 
large cotton plantation, when sunn- 10 or 50 negroes came run- 
ning down to tin' shore and begged to be taken aboard. They 
were the mosl forlorn and wretched looking beings 1 had ever 
seen; their plothing was little else than rags, scarcely covering 
their nakedness. Some of them followed us nearly a mile down 
the river, begging piteously to be taken aboard. I pitied the 
poor creatures, bul was powerless to help them, and the thought 
urred to me thai if God cares -for all his creatures, he surely 
musl h.-i\ e forgotten t hese. 

w i: S I A Y A Will I. K IN PLYMOUTH. 

Nov. 'Jit. All the troops, with the batteries, wagons, horses, 
mules and negroes, have been sent around to Newbern by 1 > « • .- 1 1 - , 
and we alone are left to garrison the town till further orders. In 
the meantime it would be agreeable to have :i change of clothing. 
When we lefl Newbern, we lefl behind us our traveling satcln Is, 
"with all our besl clothes, taking nothing excepl whal we had on, 
which is now in :i very dirty and dilapidated condition with no 
chance to gel any. The major seems to take a greal pride in 
hi-; regiment, bul I really cannol see wh\ he should take much in 
such ;i ragged, dirty, lousj sel of vagabonds as we are, bul any- 
way he does, and naturally likes to take u^ oul for dress parade 
and show ii> up to the naval officers, of whom there are quite :i 
number stationed here. In thi> he sometimes gets ;i little sel 
back, when aboul half the boys appear oul withoul any shirts on. 
Al this he will mildly remonstrate, l>m will be told their shirts 
.ire. nit being washed, and they appear oul with their blouses for 



My Diary. 1% 

shirts, with their pants and suspenders outside. This thing con- 
tinued for a ivw nights, until the major became so disgusted he 
swore a big swear that he wouldn't have another dress parade un- 
til we had some shirts. That of course made the hoys feel prop- 
er had, and they said if that was the ease, they woidd vote- 
never to have any. Plymouth is a small hut rather pretty town. 
situated on the south hank of the Roanoke river, about five miles 
up from the sound. It is a half shire town of Washington coun- 
ty, and contains two churches, two hotels, Y . S. custom house, 
court house and jail, hut no school-house. It has been a place of 
considerable trade, doing a good coasting business and exporting 
large quantities of cotton, corn, shingles, lumber, fish and naval 
stores. There are some Union people about here, who appear to- 
be nice sort of folks, but nearly all of secesh proclivities are away 

WE LEAVE PLYMOUTH. 

Dec. 24. On the 8th of December the regiment embarked 
on the schooner Skirmisher for Newbern, arriving there on the- 
evening of the ltith. We were right glad to once more get hack- 
to camp, where we could clean ourselves up ami gel a change of 
clothing, but were much more glad to find mail and express mat- 
ter from home. We were not, however, overjoyed to find an 
order awaiting us to be ready early in the morning to start on a 
long and rapid march, but having become accustomed to adapt- 
ing ourselves to circumstances, the order was soon forgotten and 
Ave were absorbed in our letters and papers, after which the con- 
tents of the lmvi's were attended to. There was a generous 
quantity of goodies from the loved ones at home, some of which 
are of a perishable nature; what shall we do with them? We go 
off in the morning, and the Lord knows when we shall come hack 
if we ever do. There are no taps tonight, and the candles burn 
long and well, so we sit down and gorge ourselves until we can 
eat no more, putting aside what we think will keep until we get 
back, and crowding as much as we can that remains into our hav- 
ersacks. We next attend to a change of clothing, and by morn- 
ing are ready for a start. I wear my best clothes, thinking if I 
should happen to become a guest at the Hotel de Libby, I should 
like to appear respectable. 

GOLHSBORO EXPEDITION. 

During our stay at Plymouth, large reinforcements of troops 
arrived at Xewhern. These troops consisted of Gen. Wessell's 
brigade of six regiments of New York and Pennsylvania trooj - 
and the 8th, 43d, 45th, 46th and 51st Massachusetts regimentP of 
nine months' troops. They wwv to join in an expedition under 
(Jen. Foster, against Goldsboro and tin- Wilmington an ! Weldon 
railroad; the object being to destroy that road, thus preventing 
reinforcements reaching Gen. Lee al Fredericksburg, where Gen. 



7- Mi Diary. 

Burnside was aboul making an assault. This part of the plan 
was successfully carried out, bul top late to be of any use to 
Burnside, as he made his attack three days before we reached and 
destroyed the road. Although (Jen. Fosl t started the momenl 
lii^ troops arrived, it was ahoul a week too late. 

The division consisted of four brigades, the Isl under com- 
mand of Brig. Gen. Wessell; the 2d, Col. A ry; 3d, Col. Stev- 
enson; 1th, Col. Lee; with the 3d New Fork cavalry and eleven 
batteries of artillery, ind the wagon and ambulance train. The 
whole made :t force of about 20,000 men, and when the procession 
was in line of march it covered :i distance i>t' aboul seven miles. 
Col. Heckman, with his 9th New Jersey regiment, was :i k i 1 1 • 1 <>t' 
independenl corps, he taking the contracl to lead the advance 
and clear the way. The expedition started on the morning of 
Dec. II. and aboul noon Col. L gade fell in on the left, the 
b being in this brigade and l s 'h regimenl in the column. 
We marched this day about 12 miles, getting into camp late in 
the evening. This bivouac was on an extensive plain, and was 
covered with troops, horses, mules and wagons, and in the dim 
moonlight, its thousand camp fires made a grand illumination. 
It was not long after supper before the men were all rolled up in 
their blankets asleep, and on thai cold December night, as I looked 
over thai Held and saw by the glare of its many camp lires, those 
thousands of brave, self-sacrificing men lie stretched upon the 
ground, I could bul think thai the bright spirits of the immortal 
band of American patriots hovered over thai camp and looked 
down approvingly upon our efforts to sustain thai govern menl and 
these institutions for which thej had sacrificed and suffered so 
much to establish. 

On the morning of the 121 li the march was resumed, bul was 
necessarily slow as the roads were badly obstructed. In one 
swamp, for a distance of three miles, the trees were thickly felled 
across the road, making a forenoon's job for Capt. \V i I >< >n and bis 
pioneer corps to clear away. They had no sooner finished this 
job when another presented itself in building a bridge across a 
creek, which took nearly all the afternoon. The 25th crossed 
this bridge aboul dark, and a little farther on saw lights ahead. 
We now thoughl we were neariug camp and we began to cheer 
up, thinking our day's w*ork nearly over, bul on coming to the 
camp tires, we found only the 51s1 Massachusetts, C »1. Sprague, 
and a battery lefl here at the junction of the main road leading 
to Kinston, with orders to 1 1 < > I < 1 it until noun the nexl day, while 
the column moved up the old or hack road towards Southwesl 
creek. Finding this was nol our hotel we took fresh courage 
and pushed on. A few miles farther brought us into camp. It 
was a cold night, and being nearly the lasl in we found the rails 
ami wood had all been appropriated, we musl either go without 
lire- or go half a mile for fuel. We went for it, and after a hard 



Mv Diary. 79 

scramble succeeded in getting a partial supply, enough however, 
with prudence, to go through the night and make our morning's 
coffee. Our march this day was only about ten miles. 

Next morning we took an early start. A mile or two up the 
road, another road branched to the fight, leading to Kinston. 
Here the i6th Massachusetts, Col. Shurtliff, with a battery were 
left to hold it. About the middle of the forenoon tiring was 
heard in the advance; Col. Iieekinan had got a job. lie found 
the enemy in considerable force at Southwest creek, and with his 
own and one or i wo other regiments succeeded in driving them 
out, capturing one gun. This Southwest creek, like all other 
battle grounds the enemy selects, is a swamp about half a mile 
wide, with a small creek running through it. We halted early in 
the afternoon, to let the teams, which were stuck all along the 
road, come up. We were now about five lnih-s from Kinston. 
The infantry bivouacked on the left side of the road, on which 
was a growth of small pines, making a nice, clean camp-ground. 
The batteries and teams, as fast as they came up, were parked in 
the open held on the right. The cavalry, which we had not seen 
for two days, were playing a lone hand, and were scouting around 
over the country, making feints and bothering the enemy. Under 
the pines we make soft beds, ami at dark kindle the fires, make 
Coffee, eat our suppers ami go to bed, expecting in the morning 
our further progress up the country will be vigorously disputed. 

All was quiet during the night, and early in the morning of 
Sunday, the 14th, the camp was astir. The general ordered that 
in order to lighten the teams, every man take three days 1 rations 
and 60 rounds of extra amm/inition. While this was being dealt 
out, some one suggested that the teams could be still further light- 
ened by issuing a ration of whiskey. Acting on that suggestion, 
the liquor was ordered, and there was far less complaint about 
taking it than there was in taking the extra ammunition. Break- 
fast over, the chaplain offered prayer, after which a hymn was 
sung; we then tiled into the road and commenced the march. 
The advance was well up the road, and we began to hear firing 
ahead. As we drew nearer it became more distinct and there 
was more of it. Wessell's and Amory's brigades were hotly en- 
gaged, and the roar of artillery gave notice that the batteries 
were not silent spectators. 

We hurried on and soon met the stretcher corps bringing 
out the dead and wounded men. r J nis to nie was a sickening 
sight, to see men with pallid faces, writhing with pain and blood 
dripping from the stretchers. I know not how it is with others, 
but there is nothing that so completely takes the pith out of me 
when going into action as this. 1 want to get engaged before 
seeing the dead or wounded; after that I do not mind so much 
about it. 

The enemy, under command of Gen. Evans, was in strong 



80 Mr l)i\i:v. 

force and posted on the south side of the river near Kinston, 
commanding the road thai led through a thick. we1 swamp Bome 
half a mile wide. This swamp prevented our batteries from 
working with much accuracy, consequently the fighl became an 
infantrj one. Wessell's and Amory's brigades pushed into the 
swamp and engaged them in front, while the other regiments :is 
they ••.Hue up were posted on the right, to prevent a flank move- 
ment, or i" make one ourselves if necessary. The 25th, with 
Morrison's battery, were drawn up in line of battle "ii an open 
field near the river, to the Left of the Bwamp. As the battle was 
confined to the swamp in front, we were no1 under fire at all. 
The battle lasted aboul three hours, when our troops gol through 
the swamp and charged on them. The 9th New Jersey led the 
charge, followed by Wessell's and Stevenson's brigades. '■ 
charged/them across the river and through the town, capturing 
eleven pieces of artillery and 300 prisoners. After which they 
shelled them, driving them up the country, ou1 of sight and hear- 
ing. In this battle the enemy numbered al>< ill 801 0, with several 
batteries of artillery. We had no means of knowing their loss, 
luit it must have been considerable; they gol off mosl <>»' their 
wounded and probably some of their dead. 

When Lee's brigade gol on the battle-ground, it was halted, 
and burying parties were detailed to bury the enemy's dead which 
here covered th< -round. This ground was hard and considera- 
bly higher than the swamp ; in the midsl of a pretty grove of 

trees si I an old church. The hoys did not take ^ery kindly to 

this burying business, .is they were in ;i hurry to gel into town 
and secure their share of the spoils, hut the job had to lie done, 
and they went about it with :i will. They dug trenches a little 
more than two feel deep, and in these the dead were placed, with 
the capes of t heir overcoats wound around their heads ; over those 

not having overcoats, pine boughs were thrown and all were r>-\- 
ered over with earth. Our loss in this battle was aboul 200, some 
50 of whom were killed, the 15 th Massachusetts sharing largely 
in the loss. Aboul dark we marched into a field a short distance 
south of the town, where we were t<> bivouac. Now commenced 
the destruction of fence-, and old buildings for tires, and after sup- 
per parties went up town to look over the prize, and late in the 
evening began to return bringing in their plunder. One party 
had been verj successful; the} came in hauling an express wagon 
loaded with tobacco, cigars, apple-jack, scuppernong wine, pigs, 
etc. Of course a dividend was struck, and all that wanted, had a 
share in the tobacco and cigars, with a drink or two of the w ine 
and apple-jack. This was a prett\ good Sunday's job. 

Nexl morning, the 15th, the division was again on the move, 
destroying the road and railroad bridges over the Neuse river as 
we left. We marched up the river road aboul I s miles, getting 
into camp late in the evening, having mel with no obstacles d ur 



My Diary. 81 • 

ing the day. Here again was a scramble for rails and wood for 

fires; all the rails near by wen id to tote ours 

about a quarter of a mile. The fires kindled, making coffee was 

in Order; after a twenty mile tramp and toting , as 

they stood around them, ro eezing the other, 

the boys arc nol feeling very amiable. If there is any on» 

more than another thai will draw the cuss-words out of them 

is when a dozen cu] s 

boiling, and some careless fellow comes alon< 

rail, dumping h all ov< r. It is not th< ffee they 

care so much about, but it is going perhaps half 

to make more. Jt is of n Mid a darky for it in 

the night, as he would not find his way back before n 

On the moi-niug of th< i } were 

in for< e across iiv< r at a pi . about three 

or four niii"s from where we were, and • building 

a steam ram. Of course that must be atten we 

left our bivouac, the ball had opened and heavy firing was heard 
ahead. Lee's bris on and an h< 

us T<> the scene oi conflict. \ road turned to the ri ling 

down to the river, where our he 25th 

was ordered down this road, but when aliout half w, and 

only a short distance in rear of the ba • red to 

halt and wail further orders. An artillery duel was • ght, 

our batteries on the south river and, th< son 

the north, with the uj> that here crossed the river. We 

had ten batteries eng the enemy had what we had not 

captured at Kinston. The roar of artillery, ing shot and 

bursting shell rful. The enemy had sharpsh long 

the river bank, who were rather troublesome to our artilleris 
and to meet them men were called for from i Lents; M ijor 

Pickett was called on for 100. lie asked for volunteers and 
more than half the regiment stepped forward for the service. I 
didn't volunteer; I never do ; I rather pride myself on not com- 
mitting a great amount of foolishness in this business. The 100 
were soon off for the river, where they took available positions 
and did good service. In this engagement they had one killed 
and three wounded. After nearly three hours the fire began to 
slacken and the enemy drew off. The- steam ram on the river, 
which was said to be quite a formidable craft, was then blown up 
and destroyed. It will be rather discouraging to attempt the 
building of any more rams at this navy-yard. The army then 
moved up the road, getting into camp aliout night, and some sev- 
en or eight miles from Goldsboro. Early in the morning of the 
17th, Lee's brigade took the advance, and after a march of rive oi 
six miles, the scouts reported the enemy in the woods near the 
railroad and bridge which crosses the river about two miles below 
G 



My Diary. 

Ishoro. \\ <• were now in their immediate neighborhood. 
The column was halted, :i regiment seul oul as skirmishers and :i 
hatter} advanced and took position on a knoll of ground, a little to 
the Nil and Ironl of the column, and commenced shelling the 
i I the effect of stirring them up, so we knew 

whei The infantry and batteries were ordered for- 

ward, and marched in!" position in fronl of the enemy, covering 
the railroad and hridjj i r some. - t aboul 1 ,p a. 

in..; commenced and continued with shorl intermissions 

until the middle of the afternoon, a1 which time we had silenced 
the enemy's guns and driven them from the field. We burned 
the railroad bridge, and with the help of the cavalry tore up and 
burned ten or twelve miles of track and tressel work of the Wil- 
mington and Weldon railroad. Gen. Foster th n said the object 
had been accomplished, and ordered a retreat, Lee's brigade be- 
ing ordered to cover it. It was near sunsel when we left the 
field, Morrison's New York and Belger's Rhode [sland batl 
alone remaining on a knoll of ground which they had occupied dur- 
ing the battle, waiting for us to gel away, when they would fol- 
low. After leaving the field, we crossed the bed of a small creek 
aboul 'J 1 ' feet wide, with scarcely any water, bul with steep banks, 
exc< I ' al the ford, where they sloped down to admil crossing. 

Crossing this creek, we halted al a farm house a litth 
off to load our dead and wounded men into ambulances. While 
doing it :i battery officer dashed up exclaiming, "For God's - 
send us an old regimenl ! The enemy are charging our batt< i 

ck ! hurry up!" The '47th and 25th Massachusetts were on 
the lefl or rear of the column, and immediately faced about and 
started on the double quick for the batteries. In the meantime, 
while our troops were leaving the field, the enemy had I eeii rein- 
fore"'!, and, seeing the batteries alone, and perhaps tKinkingthey 
mighl be oul of ammunition, th night it would be ;i nice little 
trick to capture them. In going to the relief of the batteries we 
had t" run a ganntlel of shot and shell from a six-pounder bal tery 
out iii the woods, a little to the lefl and fronl of our batt< 
who were supporting their charging brigade. We went to Bel- 
ger's support, and the 27th to Morrisson's. In the meantime the 
batteries had opened fire on the charging columns bul without 
checking them. When we came up thej were coming across the 
railroad; bul another discharge from the vim-, and seeing their 
support, the enemy thoughl they had taken too much of a job, 
and fa< in« about t he\ put for t he \\ Is. 

That little battery oul in the woo Is was wonderfully active, 
Bhying their shot and shell thick and fast. Fortunately their guns 
had ;i high elevation, and the shot wenl several feel above our 
heads. Thej soon corrected that, however, and the shol began 
to come lower. Capt. Belgev ordered us to lie down, I am always 
quick to hear that order, nnd was the firsl man down. They had 



Mv Diary. 83 

now gol their range well down, the shot just skimming over us, 
one shell had burst in front of us, killing one man and wounding 
two others. They had a splendid range on me as I lay in the rear 
of my company. About once a minute a shot would come direct- 
ly oyer me, striking the ground only a few feel in the rear, and 
what made it more provoking, they kept getting them lower, un- 
til I had flatted oul as thin as a sheel Of tissue paper. J could 
stand this no longer, and told the hoys in front of me that those 
shot were coming dangerously close, and they had better make a 
break by crowding a little to the right and left. 1 pushed along 
about ten feet to the left ami would liked t<» have pushed about 
ten miles to the rear. That movement was barely executed when 
a shot ploughed a furrow through the space they had made. But 
that was their last shot, for after the charging column had turned, 
the guns were tinned on that battery,and annihilated it. -it the first 
discharge, or ;ii least, I supposed that was the case, as we heard 
nothing more from it. It was now after sunset ami peace (■nee 
more reigned in Warsaw. 

We waited awhile to see if they wanted anything more of 
us, and finding they di 1 not, we again drew off the field. On 
coming to the little creek, which we hud crossed dry shod an 
hour before, we now found a roaring torrent running bankfull, 
with barrels, rails and pieces of timber borne on the surface of its 
swift current. We had got to go through it, and tin' hoys, hold- 
ing their rifles, cartridge boxes and blankets above their heads, 
waded in. The water was waist deep, and when my companv 
went in I waited on the hank, thinking I would step into the rear 
as they passed by, hut 1 made a wrong calculation of the hank. 
When I stepped in, I went in all over, and in trying to recover 
myself, I let go my cartridge box, blankel and Spitfire, bul caught 
the last between my knees, and commenced ducking to get it. 
The major was standing on the bank, cautioning the hoys to keep 
their powder dry. When he happened to observe me going 
through my aquatic performances he yelled vociferously: "Whal 
in hell are you doing there? Why don't you keep your powder 
up out of the water?" I paid no attention to him, hut kept 
reaching Eor Spitfire, and every time I reached for it, the current 
would nearly lake me off my feet. After I had succeeded in tish- 
ing it out, I turned my attention to the major, and answered his 
little conundrum by asking him what in hell powder wasgood for 
without Spitfire? The major laughed and jumping on a gun car- 
riage was ferried across. I was a little the worsl off of the lot 
for I was thoroughly soaked, as were also all my belongings. 

The night was freezing cold and in our wet clothes we felt it 
very sensibly. A mile march broughl us to the woods, which 
were some four or five miles through, and on the other side was 
our last night's bivouac. The advance troops had set the woods 
on Hie and when we went through, it was a roaring mass of flame. 



M Ml Di 

This ser 1 turn, as it lighted up the road and kept us 

warm. We reached our hivou cold, 

gry, l.iit our d: y's work w: - not yet done. It' we 
wanted (ires and I e, we must go half a mile for mils and 

tote them in on our shoulders. We I >rl supply 

and soon had our coffee boiling. Our w 
and \ md hardtack. 

Through the long, weary night, wet, cold and hungry, we 

st I shi ver the fires. Gladly we hailed the first grey 

streaks of dawn and look fresh courage, knowing we should soon 
bi on the road for home. At sunrise the whole army was in mo- 
tion, on the road for Newborn, where we arrived a little a 

i ..n Sunday, the '_!l-i. nearly dying from hunger and exhaus- 
tion. 

When we started on this expedition it was thought the wag- 
ons contained, an ample supply of r 'it our march up the 
country impeded by blockaded nd so rigorously 
contested thai it \\;is prolonged beyond whal was anticipated; 
besides it was an awful poor section of country for pigs, chickens 
and apple-jack. On this little excu en. Foster's arm} 
Keen ou1 ten days, marching 150 miles, cutting oul several m 
of blockaded roads, building one bridge, doing considerahle - 
mishing, whipping the enemy three times on their own ground, 
besides other mischief, such ;is burning the railroad bridge al 
Goldsl oro, burning a train of cars and smashing up an engine at 
Mount ( Hive station, some ten miles down the road from the bat- 
tle ground, and also tearing up the track between the two points. 
This lasl deviltry the 3d New York cavalry is accountable for. 
There was also burned a quantity of cotton, several house-. 1 arns 
and many thousands of dollars' worth of fencing and timber. A 
very clever little job t'.>r one trip, but the results would have been 

ter had il been done two weeks s ler; it would then have 

tly hindered the reinforcing of Gen. Lee al Fredericksburg. 
However, t here can no blame be laid to G< n. Foster, as he started 
on the execution of his orders as soon as the troops arrived. 

M \.lo|; |'|< K l ii. 

Our little major since the two lasl tramps has become verj 
popular in his regiment, and I ex peel when the eagles lighl on 
}] i- shoulders we shall feel pretty proud of him. He is a staving 

g I fellow, and in a fight is always on the lead, inspiring the 

men uitli courage by his coolness and daring. On the road he is 
equally good, letting the boys have it prett) much their own way, 
never troubling himself aboul how they came bj their chickens 
and apple-jack, and is often -ecu trudging along on foot, letting 
some Bick or footsore soldier ride his giraffe. 



My Dim; v. 85 



CHAPTER V. 

THE m:\v year. 

January 1, 1 s < > ; J . By ilic blessing of God we have entered 
the portals of another year. Who knows what storms within it 
hide? Who can tell how many of ns will enter on another year ? 
but let as not despond; let us look with bright hopes to the fu- 
ture, going manfully forward, overcoming .-ill obstacles in our 
path. We know the hardships, privations and dangers through 
which we have passed the last year, perils by sea and perils by 
land, meeting death in a thousand forms, hut by an unseen hand 
have been broughl safely through. It has now been fifteen months 
since our regiment was organized, and we then thought that by 
this time the trouble would he over and the rebellion would have 
become a thing of the past. Hut not so; it seems to have taken 
deeper root and there is no telling when it will end. It is true 
our armies have met with many successes and have also met with 
some reverses; the army of the Potomac has met with nothing 
hut disaster from the first and will probably meet with nothing 
else until let alone by the war office at Washington. The enemy 
has a number of cruisers afloat making havoc with our merchant 
marine, and every success of their army inspires them with fresh 
hope and courage. I am reminded of what my new-found friend 
here in town told me a few days after we came here, that I would, 
if nothing happened to me, serve out my three years and could 
then re-enlist. I thought then the man was crazy, now I am not 
quite sure hut he was the better prophet of the two. 

THE MAJOR'S EAGLES. 

Feb. 1. At last the major's eagles, which have so long been 
winging their flight this way, have alighted on his shoulders, and 
he looks as pert and gamy as a wildcat. Bully boy! long may 
you wave! Promotions will now come along right smart, and I 
have no doubl I have keen thought of for some important posi- 
tion, hnt I shall decline all promotions; I had rather he a door- 
keeper at the guardhouse than to dwell in the tents of wicked- 
ness. 

WE LEAVE FOR PLYMOUTH. 

Newbern, Wednesday, March is. After months of idle- 
ness in camp, at last comes a change. At 4 o'clock p. m., orders 
came to break camp, pick up our traps and he read) to march in 
half an hour. Dark found seven companies of is on hoard the 
steamer Escort, hound for Plymouth. Companies A, E and II 
were left to follow on another boat. The night being dark and 
stormy we waited till morning before leaving. 



My Dim: v. 

March l!». Fleavj northeasl storm blowing thi^ morning. 
Steamer starts down the river and enters the >< •nic 1 aboul 1<» 
o'clock, wind increases, the sound grows rough, the boat rolls, 
the boys groM sick, the water breaks on deck and many of them 
gel wet; altogether the passage is rather unpleasant. We arrive 
at the north end of the sound, near the entrance to Croaton sound, 
aboul 9 p. in., and anchor for the night. 

March 20. This morning finds the storm unabated. The 
Imi.ii starts al daylight, passing Roanoke island, and enters 

Albemarle, arriving al Plymouth late in the aftern where we 

make our quarters in a large warehouse on the wharf. 

March 22. The garrison lure consists of companii 
Capt. Swift, and H, Capt. Sanford, of the 27th Massachusetts; 
company D, Capt. Howard, of the $th Massachusetts; company 
C, Capt. Cliffton, of the Isl North Carolina Union volunti 
and pari of a company of North Carolina cavalry. Several gun- 
boats lying in the river. The fellows here are telling us bear 
stories aboul one rebel General Garnett (whoever he is) and his 
brigade which is hov< ring around here. I think he must 1"' quite 
a harmless character to lei so small a garrison as this go undis- 
turbed, bul ii is possible he has a wholesome fear of Capt. Flusser 
and his gunboats. This town has undergone quite a change 
since we were here last fall. During the winter the enemy made 
a dash in here, setting the town on fire, burning up the central 
and business portion of it. These people have singular id< 
they seem to think that by destroying their property, they are in* 
some way damaging us, bul if we destroy any property it is a 

greal piece of vandalism. ! reckon they will s etime see their 

mi-lake ami repent of it in <lust and ashes. 

'.I \ . pos IKK AKKI VI s. 

March 24. Gen. Foster arrived this morning and went to 
work laying oul a fori and other defences which we are to build. 
That job done, he took companies F, I and K of the 25th and 
H of the 27th Massachusetts with a party of marine-, and a 
boat howitzer (on board his boat, the John Ferrin,) and left 
on some sorl of an excursion up the Chowan river. The gen- 
eral is no idler, he is always on the move and seeing that 
ev< rybod} else is. He is ubiquitous, turning up al any time in 
all parts of his domain, and keeping everybody within fifty miles 
on t he qui vive. 

I'l I i IIINo I \ \||\ 

M \ ia ii 27. We have cleared off the debris from a portion 
of the burnl districl and pitched our camp there. The colonel 
mighl take a little more pride in showing us up to the naval offi- 
c< rs ai dress para !e than he did when we were here last fall, but 
he is in com n in ml of the post; Lieut. Col. .Moult on is in com ma ml 



My Diary. 87 

of the regiment and he will do the honors. The -Itith Massachu- 
setts lias arrived and will pitch their cam]) mi tin- right of us, in 
the burnt district. 

WORK ON THE FORT. 

Work commenced today on the defences. Capt. Foster oi 
Company I) is to be superintendent ami general hoss. I was tic- 
tailed to take command of a working party from my company. 
Now this was ;ill new business to me. i knew nothing about 
building forts, so I stood with my men ami looked on. This was 
not very hard work, but after a spell the captain said, "Bring 
your men this way." The order was promptly responded to, and 
the boys set to work. 1 thought they worked well enough, al- 
though I noticed that the bank in front of them did not rise very 
fast, but 1 supposed that was owing to the hardness of the soil. 
After a while they complained of feeling tired; 1 told them to 
vest, ami they squatted. After thai tliej seemed to be tired pret- 
ty much of the time. The captain would come along and ask me 
why my men were not working. I would answer him (hat they 
were tired, and after resting would handle their spades right 
smart. At night we had a bank tin-own up about a rod lone,- and 
nearly a fool high, but the boys worked well and I know they 
will sleep well after it. 

Companies A, E and H arrived yesterday, and also the com- 
panies of the expedition who left with the general, except com- 
pany I, which remains at Edenton for a few days. 

CHURCH SERVICE. 

March 'I'.K Church service today for the first time in sev- 
eral weeks; we 0C< Upied the Methodist church. Chaplain James 
discoursed on neutrality, lie said there could he no such thing 
as neutrality; a man must he one thing or the other, and those 
who do not declare for the government, should In- treated - 
enemies. The house was well filled with soldiers ami the gal- 
leries running around three sides of the house were filled with 
darkies, who somewhat resembled an approaching thunder squall. 

PICKET DUTY. 

APRIL •">. 1 fear I was not appreciate. 1 on the fort, as I was 
superseded after my first day's effort and have since been as- 
signed io other dutj ; but I nobly served my country, and I know- 
that history will do me justice. Yesterday I was out in the 
country among the wild flowers. I wenl out with a picket guard, 
about three miles in r southeasterly direction, to what i.s called 
Mills cross-roads, relieving the old picket. After spreading our 
blankets on the grass beside the fence, we entered vigorously on 
our <!uty of waiting and watching for the rebel Gen. Garnett, ami 
listening to the sweet warbling of the singing birds. There is 



88 



y\\ i 



nothing in pickel duty that stirs up mounl of enthu- 

i, iiit still ii is .-i good steady business, with occasionally a 

lin ■ - when a darky conies along and one 

Ahoui the middle of the aft 'rnoon, we heard the approach 
of hi iking up the road, saw two ladies coming at a 

M> Hrsl iinpu dry, 

hut I refrain ' 1 !ir\ \\ ere nol enemies. 

As the\ Mesdames Bartholomew and Cliff- 

ton. 1 i m- ii ■ I in ' extende ! to them the customa- 

ry civiliti -. Tin said for an afternoon's ride 

and supposed il « could j" in that direction. 1 

told them they mighl go farther if they wished, and I should be 
pleased t i furnish them an it would weaken my lines. 

laughed and t me for my gallantry, i>ut thought 

they had better not venture farther. I inquired ii' there were 
any news stirriug in town, and they answered, "All quiet <>n the 
Roanoke." They then bade us good afternoon and started on 
the retreat. There is no church service today; all hands are busy 
:ii work on the fort, and things are beginning to look as though 
war was liable to break oul at almost anv time. 



& EV S FROM A LONG I II i: LINE. 

April 10. The siege of Washington on the Pamlico river 
id heavy firing is heard from there every day. We 
learn tl c\ have gol Gen. Foster >!mt up there and he is in danger 
of i eing made prisoner. Th .1 may be, bul 1 will bel ten tu one 
he holds the keys and will never take off his cap to any general 
in the ( lonfederate service. 

April 16. Work goes bravely on, at the fort; one gun 
mounted today and ii we can have two or three days more we 
sh M be ready to receive company. Our little force here is being 
well handled, and with the :ii'l of the boats can make a stubborn 
resistance. We heard that Gen Spinola l< i Newbern with quite 
a foi e nd to the reliel of Gen. Foster, bul when 

abou I half way there he gol scared and turned back. G . Foster 
will nol coniplimenl him very highly for thai feat. I have heard 
n rum >r thai we have lia 1 an invitation to surrend t: thai a flag 
truce came to our lines and requested an interview with the 
posl commai) ler. ( ol. Picketl wenl out. Thej said something 
ahoui his surrendering, when the colonel replied he had not been 
in communic Ii i.i- superior recently and had received no 

rs i" surrender, and thai under the circumstances he thoughl 
ii wouldn'l look hardh in > surrender withoul first burn- 

ings towder over it. lie then dismissed the flag. Bravo, 

colonel, ln:i\ o! 



My Diary. *0 

evacuation. 

April 19. The steamer Thomas Collyer arrived last night, 
bringing dispatches of sonic kind, but just what we were unable 
to find out. This morning, however, the mystery was cleared up. 
The 12th New Fork battery was on the wharf, 'the 46th Massa- 
chusetts ami the other detache I companies were breaking camp, 
preparatory to going aboard the boat. This meant evacuation 
and going to the relief of Foster. The 25th of course is to be 
the last to leave, and we east the last sad, lingering look on Ply- 
mouth. That is always our style; the first in and last out, and 
never lost a battle. But just here, the uncertainty of all things 
human is again illustrated. Just as the troops were aboard, the 
old Massasoit comes puffing up the river, bringing the welcome 
news that Foster has run the blockade and the order of evacuation 
is countermanded. Cheer after cheer rends the air, smiles light 
up every countenance and hope takes the place of despair. But 
won'l there be larks now, t'i nigh? If there is anyb > iv hanging 
around Washington who does not belong there, they had bettet 
be getting away. 

i o'.i.x j.;r, si-.S')N. % 

It seems that after Spinola's abortion and the troops" return 
to Newbern, the brave C »l. Sisson of the 5th Rh ide Island was 
so disgusted with the whole thing that he proposed going with his 
regiment alone to Foster's relief, lie and his regiment went aboard 
the steamer Escort, and on the evening of the 13th, under cover 
of a heavy fire from the gunboats on the batteries at Hill's Point, 
seven miles below Washington, he successfully ran the blockade, 
arriving at Washington with his troops and supplies. The next 
evening, with Gen. Foster aboard, he again ran the guantlet, 
landing the general safely in Newbern. But it is said the Escort 
looked, like a pepper-box from tin' shot holes made in her while 
running the gauntlet. On this perilous trip only one man (the 
pilot) was killed. The little garrison at Washington held out 
bravely. It consisted of only eight companies of the 27th and 
the 44th .Massachusetts regiments, two companies of the 1st 
North Carolina, one company of the 3d New York cavalry and 
one New Fork battery, aided by two or three gunboats on the 

river. Against this small force was opposed s e 12,000 of the 

enemy as near as we can learn. After lirii. Foster got away they 
did not seem to care to wail for his return, but folded their tents 
and silently stole away. 

A.LL QUIET o\ THE Ko.woKK. 

April 24. The noise of the battle is over and we are no 
longer harassed by war's dread alarms, but can now sit down, eat 
our fresh shad and herring and drink OUT peach and honey in 
peace and quiet. 



90 .My Diary. 

\ BR( K I It's OFFN I.. 

Our provosl marshal, Major Bartholomew of the 27th Mas- 
sachusetts, has opened n broker's office, where he is exchanging 
salt and amnesty for allegiance oaths, and as this is the fishing 
season, he i- driving a righl smarl business. The natives for 
miles around come in droves, take the oath, get their amn< 
papers and an order for salt, and after being cautioned nol to be 
found breaking their allegiance the) go away happy. There are 
probably some bonesl men among them who would like to "do 
:il>"iii right it' they dared to, bu1 the whole thing looks ludicrous, 
for there is evidently nol one in a hundred of them who would 
ever think of taking the <>ath were ii not for the hope of obtain- 
ing a little salt. The boys call it the salt oath. 

\ ..ik.!. SENSIBLE I U.K. 

April 'J s . I was nut in tin- country yesterday, doing picket 
duty. :iu-l tell in with :m old gentleman with whom I had ;i good 
sensible talk. He was an intelligent, well appearing man, who 
said he was -i farmer, or had been one until the breaking oul of 
the war. lie nuns a plantation just outside our line-, but is not 
permitted to go into town. He is allowed to purchase in small 
quantities such articles as he may need b) sending in his negro 
man or getting the boys t<> bring them out. He said :tt the com- 
mencement uf the siT<'--i,,u movement, he and nil this part >>!' the 
state, in fact nearly :i!l of the state, was opposed t<> it. ami in two 
state conventions, to both of which he was a delegate, the ordi- 
nance of <(■<•'. svion was rejected, ami not until after South Caroli- 
na on one side and Virginia on the other had gone out was the 
ordinn nee oi secession pass 

He is we were we could not remain neutral, 

and although opposed to it from the beginning and all the time 
even after the war commenced and all our young men ha I gone 
into the army, il was bu1 natural thai 1 should sympathize with 
in y own people." 

"Certainly," 1 replied, "but have you an) hopes of the ulti- 
mate success of the Confederacy?" 

"None whatever, and I told our people so at our conventions. 
We an- a ruined people and the best thing we can h> i> to make 
peace with the government on any terms we can." 

"Yes, bul you know the terms are very simple, merely to lay 
down your arm- and return to your loyalt) to the government." 

"Yes, I know it is simple enough now. bul I reckon the gov- 
ernment at Richmond is nol wise enough to accept it, and the 
longer the) keep up the war the worse we are off, and in the end 
we will have to accepl such terms as are dictated to us." 

A sensible old gentleman that, and I should have liked to 
g it to hi- place and -ample his peach and honey, scupper- 
none and things. 



My Dim: v. 



91 



STOKES TAKES Ills LEAVE OF US. 

Aii order was received here to. lay from the war departmenl 
discharging Stokes from the service. When the order was read, 

it took him l»\ surprise as it was his first intimation of it. IK* 
seemed disappointed and said he should Like well enough to go 
home a few days, but did not Itke the idea of going to stay ami 
thought he should be back with us again in a few weeks. II*' 

left for home tins afternoon. I am sorry to lose Stokes ami shall 
miss him very much. He was my chief of staff and I place. 1 
great reliance on him. He was one of our bust hoys, possessed 
of excellent judgment, an.l was unsurpassed in the secret service. 
I parted with him with many regrets ami shall always retain 
pleasant memories of our soldier life. 

WE RETURN TO PTEWBERN. 

May 3. Attended church this morning. Steamer Thomas 
Collyer arrived this afternoon with orders for the regiment to. re- 
port at Newbern. All was bustle and hurrah boys; down came, 
the tents and a general packing up followed. At dark we were 
aboard the boat, and, giving three cheers to Capt. Flusser and his 
men, steamed down the river. We had a beaiitiful moonlight 
night and a splendid sail down the Albemarle ; arriving at New- 
bern in the afternoon of the 4th, we went into the Foster bar- 
racks for the night. . 

ON THE 0U> (AMP GROUND. 

Mat 5. This morning we pitched our tents once more on 
rani)) Oliver. This seems like home again. We shall now have 
little else than guard duty to perform, keep ourselves slicked up 
and do the town. This is what we call being on waiting orders. 
hut as the colonel has not had a hack at us lately, 1 presume he 
will want to practice some new evolutions lie has been studying 
up out of the tactics. At any rate, we shall not longremain idle. 

THE BOYS' STORY. 

May 25. For the past day or two 1 have been a good deal 
amused and interested in hearing the boys relate their adventures 
at Dover and (dun swamps. Their stories conflict a little, hut as 
near as I can make it out I fix up a little story : To prepare it a 
little, we hold an outpost an.l signal station some twelve miles up 
the railroad, at Bnehellor's creek towards Kinston. This is gar- 
risoned by the 58th Pennsylvania, Col. Jones. He isone of those 
stirring, active, restless sort of men, always finding out r\>\-\- 
thing and getting interested in it. Well, he had discovered an 
outpost of the enemy some ten o- twelve miles in his front and 
some six miles this side of Kinston, at a place called ( dun swamp, 
and garrisoned by a considerable force. Now it occurred to him 
that it would be a capital joke to capture that post. So he comes 



RY. 

and 

! . 

- and 

it it. That the g ; 1 ■ ■' "it 

- til in. and he 

- 

: 
_ 

, I was - _ \ .. the 

• 

_ - I will 

_ . all the 
v ii! take 
?1 
2 

S ' 

I 

ler. 

Til 5T OK S 

towards _ 

.-t then 

ill down 
- - thing 

rnat- 
•iiink th< - sorl 

_ 

the witching 
_ . with t! - _ 

[j thai ■ -■ anything 

- it is - sing that 1 jhosts, 

, 5. 1) ■;• it is _ hear them tell it. 

>F WAR. 

Core creek. Here 
5 ag 
27th Mass setts should m 

- were 
gaging ttention in front. 1 hira thun- 

rhole 
t, s 

oeniy 

Hank am - ! met with partial 

as I red 1 65 - s, < »ne 1 2-pounder 

- - • d destroyed their camp and earth- 

- they had only h'\ 
slighl After having accomplished their ob- 






_ 
_ 

_ 



i 

■ 

- 
_ 

- 

i 



- 

2 thirs 

Here f 

- 

! 

- 
- 

ami - - 

- 

:it. 

HILI 

Jc: 

- I 
at an L< . _ _ - _ 

and 

and " 

and 
boun<l for Washing! 

1 m- and had a fine £ 

and " _ _ 

running nj> to within a few mi _ 



94 



!\h Diary 



chored for the night. Early the nexl morning, we reaehed our 

destinal n S i after we were ordered back down the river, 

and companies K and I landed it Hodman's point, four miles be- 
low town, while the Mystic kepi on and landed F, C and B a1 
Hill*'- Point, three miles lower down, relieving a New York bat- 
tery company which was on duty there. 

Our firsl business was to tote our baggage and camp equi- 
page up the bluff, and under a broiling sun we worked bard, al 
least I thoughl it was bard. I carried my knapsack up and was 
so exhausted I thoughl I bad better celebrate the r< si of the day. 
I started oul to explore the surroundings, nnd soon my eye rest- 
ed "ii .1 board shantj al the fool of the bluff. I entered and 
found a noble scion of African descent; he was running a restau- 
rant, I lis whole stock consisting of corn meal, with which he 
made hoe cakes for the boys on the bluff. I inquired if he in- 
tended remaining here or going with the compauy we had just re- 
lieved. He said he should staj if he met with sufh'cienl encour- 

ment from the boys. I gave him a greal deal of encour 
ment, telling him 1 thoughl he would have righl smart of busi- 
ness and would do well, thai I would give him my patronage and 
thai he mighl commence now by making me one of his besl hoe- 
cakes for dinner. He said it would 1 e ready in half an hour. I 
wenl oul and worked hard during thai time, watching the boys 
gel the freighl up the i luff. I went for the cake and was shown 
one about fifteen indie-- across and of good thickness. I began 
mentally to size my pile, thinking 1 had been a little indiscreet. 
I inquired the price of thai monstrosity, and w:is told it was ten 
cents. I felt relieved and handing out the dime, took the cake 
and went in, the bluff. Here 1 met Spencer and asked him if he 
bad any meat. He replied, "jusl a little." I showed him the 
hoe cake and said I thoughl we hud bettei dine together; he 
thoughl so, too. Getting a cup of water, we sal down on a log 
and ate our Fourth of July dinner. The afternoon was used up 
in pitching tents and mounting pickel guard. Thus was spent 
the Fourth of July, 1863. 

Sunday, July 5. Like mosl other Sabbaths in the army, 
so was this; all day bus) cleaning up the campground, tearing 
down the board shanties which fprmer occupants had erected .•m<l 

using the material for ll -ing in our tents. We had our Fourth 

of July dinner todaj ; bean soup, hoe cake and lemonade. Hill's 
Poinl is iint a point in the river, :is the stream here runs straight, 
bul i^ a Uuli some 25 feel higher than the river and aboul 20 
rods wide. It is the terminus of the table-land bevond, :uicl is 
formed bj wide, deep ravines on either side which run back and 
soon ascend to the level of the tal\le-land. Heretofore the enenn 
had a habil of running batteries down here and intercepting the 

boats c big up the river, forming a sorl of blockade, causing 

our gunboats to waste righl smarl of ammunition, or necessitating 



My Diaby. 95 

the marching of troops across the country from Newbern to 
drive them out. During the siege last spring, they had a power- 
ful battery here which caused Gen. Foster a heap of trouble. 
Since then he has occupied il himself. This is an intrenched 
camp, sporting three brass six-pounder field pieces. When or by 
whom these works were built is to me unknown, hut they look 
like the work of the enemy. They contain a great number of an- 
gles; commencing on the edge of the bluff next the river, they 
run several rods along the edge of the ravines, then cross in front 
of the camp, and from any part of the line can he got direct, 
cross and enfilading fires. The three guns are in battery on the 
flanks ami center. Major Atvvood is in command, and in his 
absence, Capt. Foss of company F. Such is a description of our 
present abiding place. 

I GET PROMOTED. 

July 7. Today a sergeant, corporal and eight privates from 
each company have been detailed to manipulate the big guns. I 

had the honor of being selected from my company, and was as- 
signed the left gun, ;i mosl danger mi- an 1 hazardous position. I 
fee! proud of my promotion and am sure I shall sustain the honor 
of the artillery service. For a day or two we shall lie under the 
instructions of a battery sergeant who will instruct us in loadings 
and firings. We shall also have to inform ourselves from a small 
hook, giving instruction in loading ami firing, and in calculating 
distances, elevations ami depressions of the u'uns. My gun on 
the left occupies a very conrrfanding position, being some ten 
feel higher than the other ^iins. From tic top of the parapet to 
the bottom of the ravine, it is some oil or 4u feet, and a part of 
the way nearly perpendicular. I have a range of the whole clear- 
ing and covering both the other guns ; because of its greal nat- 
ural strength and commanding position, I have dubbed it the 
Malakoff. I being the senior sergeant, am styled on all hands, 
by both officers and men, as the chief of artillery, a rank I accept 
and have assumed all the privileges which that rank implies. 

The little steamer Undine plies between town and this port, 
making her trips mornings and afternoons, giving us frequent 
ami easy transit to town, [intend giving my command two or 
three passes a .lay, so they can visit town if they wish to. I am 
going to be liberal with them, ami thai if their professional ser- 
vices should be required, I shall expect them to stand by those 
guns and fighl like bloodhounds till the last armed foe expires. 

WHISKEY RATIONS. 

July lo. This being an isolated post and several miles from 
any commissary or sutler, the officers feared it would he terribly 
infected with malaria ; having regard for the health and welfare 
of the men, they prevailed on our assistant surgeon, Doctor 



96 Diary. 

Flagg, to ord< r whiskey rations. \'\> went the order :hi<1 down 
came the wl . now the order i- ;<» drink n«> more river 

water, bul take :i little whiskey as :i preventive. This will pi 
:i terrible hardship to the boys, hul tin im- 

perative. 'i'hf boys in camp gel their whiskey at night, and the 
piekets in the morning when they come in. After a barrel of 
whiskej ! out all day in the sun and ml milk 

warm, it is curio rve the boys while drinking it. S 

of them with rather ti 

trying t<> swallow it. but will mai 
down and then run abou n rods to catch th. 

< ! nut the whiskey ;>» their 

consequi ntl) I deal oul t<> mine, and when I wis any 

of my braves for gallanl and meritorious conduct, 1 ma 
slop a little extra into their cups. Thai keeps them and 

in! i id gallant . Meritorious condiu I 

in watermelons, ; ■ nd o1 Inr su •. of whi 

8omt hotc become | 

A CONFLK I OF All HORITY. 

.1 1 i,v 20. 'i ct mstant jea 

and si rile for promotion and rank, watching and 1"',! 
each other, fearful ne one may be assuming some rank or 

taking some privileges thai do not belong to him. 1 have 
been giving my men passes out of cainp, and these passes 
been honored at headquarters. In consequence of that a spirit of 
envy and jealousy entered the breas • infant i\ officers ; it 

made them feel sore and n ■ they consull ther and 

decided thai that could n<» longer be allowed. 'I 'hey informed me 
thai 1 was exceeding my authority in passing men oul of earn]). 
Being in a minority and nol caring to exhibil any stubbori 
over so trifling a matter 1 magnanimously waived my authority 
to issue the passes, bul it was a big come down for the chief of 
artillery. When I wish t" leave I simply look in al headquarters 
and sa) to the captain. "I propo out." I there is anything 

in the pitcher he always says, -\\n\ had bet) in, an 1 take 

something before going." The captain i- as generous as he is 
brave, and brave men are always generous. 

\ FIELD i>.\Y. 

A.UGUS1 1. We had been drilling and going through the 
motions of artillery firing every da} for a month, and a few days 
ago ii was thoughl besl to tesl our theory bj a little practice. 
Each gun was to fire eighl rounds. The targets, aboul the size of 
:i large barn, were sel up GOO yards in front of the guns. 

Ai noon the pickets were called in from oul the woods and 
v. .. .ii after the firing commenced. I ordered a blank to commence 
with to see if the old gun would shoot. It spoke oul splendidly : 



Mv Diary. 



97 



I was pleased with it ; I then orclere 1 a solid shut. It was fired 
and went somewhere, I don't know where; hut it didn't hit the 
target. Calculating that a shell will travel a mile in seven sec- 
onds and the target was ahoul a third of a mile away, I thought 
I would try one with the fuse at three seconds. It was fired and 
hurst at the muzzle of the gun. That was not satisfactory. 1 
then ordered another with the fuse at live seconds. Thisexploded 
when about half way to the target. I began to think those shell 
were all intended for short range anyway, and ordered one at one 
second. It was fired, and I heard it whizzing off through the 
woods a mile away. I was disgusted with shell practice and 
thought I would try canister. \Y e fired one and I could see the. 
bashes cut away ai about lil'll yards. Those shots had keen fired 
at two degrees elevation. I ordered the corporal to sight the gun 
at the tops of the trees out in the woods, and tried another can- 
ister. This was better, the shot scattering about the target. We 
had now only one more shot, I thought I would try a solid one, 
and ordered the gun sighted at the top of the target. This was 
an excellent shot and I know it must have gone very near the tar- 
get as I saw the top of a tree shake out in the woods in a direct 
line of the target. 

On the whole, the firing was not entirely satisfactory, but the 
gunnery was all that could he desired and I am inclined to think 
the fault was in the ammunition. I think it must have been shop- 
worn or s scond-hau 1. Hat perhaps I ought not to find too much 
fault, as this was our first practice. I am now impatient for an 
attack, for I know we can hold this post against any force that 
would he likely to he brought against it, and demonstrate to the. 
country that we are heroes descended from heroes. 



AX INSPECTION. 

August 12. A few days ago orders came to gel ready for 
inspection the next afternoon. All was now hurry and hustle, 
cleaning up camp, arms, equipments and clothing, ami putting 
everything in order. The artillerists worked like beavers, clean- 
ing up the gun carriages and limbers, using all the grease in the 
kitchen to brighten them up. The old brass guns were polished 
up and Shone like mirrors and we were congratulating ourselves 
on being highly complimented. 

At the appointed time, Lieut. Col. Moulton and ('apt. Ruwls- 
ton of somebody's staff put in an appearance. Tin- captain was 
the inspecting officer; a very airy, pompous young gentleman, 
with a remarkable faculty of making his weak points conspicu- 
ous. When the companies fell in, he noticed the artillery detail 
diil not fall in and inquired the reason. Col. Moulton replied that 
they were expecting to be iuspected as artillery. The captain 
said he knew nothing about that, he was sent here to inspect this 
7 



98 



M-, Diary. 



detachment as infantn and every man musl fall in. Now that 
ill right enough, onlj ii placed me at a disadvantage, for I 
had taken no thought or care of Spitfire since my promotion and 
it was looking prettj bad. Hut I had no time '" clean it 
up, an. I I must say it was a sorry looking piece '<> take out for a 
show, Bui as bad as ii looked, I had the utmost confidence in 
its shooting qualities, in fact I have never lost confidence in Spit- 
fire but once, thai was when I dropped it in tin' creek at (Jolds- 
boro. 

We were marched out ami paraded, ami after the inspecting 
officer had"sassed" Col. Moulton ami nearly all the other officers, 

he e menced bis job. II.' found right smart of fault, but didn't 

find a really g 1 subject until he came to me. lie looked me 

over, ami taking Spitfire gave it a very careful and thorough in- 
tion. Handing it hack he very gravely informed me that he 
had inspected the whole army of the I'otomac and had never he- 
fore seen a rifle looking so had as Spitfire, and still further com- 
plimenting me b) saying I was about the roughest looking ser- 
geant he had ever seen. I nodded assent, venturing the remark 
thai I had been in the artillery detail while here ami my rifle had 
been somewhat neglected, hut I hail a gun on the Malakoff that. 
could knock the spots off the sun. He allowed that that was in- 
solence and any in ire of it would subjed me to arrest, [mag- 
ine the indignation of the chief of artillery on being threatened 
with arrest by an infantry captain. Mj liist impulse was to call 
my command, lash him to the muzzle of the gun on the Malakoff 
and give him rapid transit over the tops of the pines, but better 
thoughts soon succeeded ;in 1 I forgave him, thinking that perhaps 
he was doing as well as he knew how. The inspection over, lie 
had not long to stay, as the boal was waiting for him. I noticed 
the officers didn'l pet him very much and I don't believe he got 
more t ban one drink. 

Miss CARROLL. 

Three <>r four miles out here, through the woods, lives a .Mr. 
Carroll. He has two sons in the 1st North Carolina union vol- 
ioned up in Washington, lie makes frequent visits 
up there to see the hoys and is often accompanied by his daugh- 
ter, a rather good-looking young lady of about 20 years of 
It sometimes happens that they get here early in the moniing and 
have to wait an hour or so for the ho. it. and will sometimes stop 
an hour en their return before going home. At these times they 
are guests a1 headquarters and a few of us, without the fear of 
the captain before our eyes, will happen in to have a chal with 
lie- old gentleman >uid his daugh er. Sh • expresse 1 a greal fond- 
ness for literature and claims to lie "theonh really literals young 
hii\ in these yere parts." We occasionally fit her out with such 
Btory papers ami magazines as we maj have lying around, for 
which she expresses great pleasure. 



My Diary. 99 

She one day inquired if we had read a certain piece of poet- 
ry in one of the magazines we had given her. She was told we 
had and thought it very nice We inquired if she was pleased 
with it. She replied she thought it was "Splendid! beautiful!" 
We asked if she was fond of poetry. She said, she was excess- 
ively fond of it and read a great deal ; in a sly, blushing kind of 
way, she hinted that she sometimes tried her hand at composing. 
"Ah, indeed; would you favor us with a few specimens, some 
• lay when you come over ? We should he pleased to look at them. 1 ' 
She promised she would, and the next time she came she brought 
a composition entitled "Lines to the Union Boys/ 1 They were 
the merest doggerel, but we were loud in their praise and told 
her that by reading poetry anftl practising composing she would 
excel; that when the cruel war was over and we had retired to 
the peaceful pursuits of life in our far northern homes, we hoped 
to be reminded of her occasionally, by seeing some of her produc- 
tions in print. She seemed a good deal pleased with such flatter- 
ing encomiums, but thought she would hardly attain to that dis- 
tinction. I thoughl so too. I asked if she would allow me to take 
a copy of the lines during her absence up town, and she kindly 
consented. Below is the copy : 

I suppose you have herd of Swift creek 
An the victory there was won 
The yankee boys was wide awake 
An they made them rebels run. 

Chorus — Farewell Father an Mother 
An a true sweetheart 
An the girls we leave in pain 
Oh dont forget those yankee bys they are coming back again. 

An when the yankees did come in 
The guerrillas took to flight 
An tore down the bonna blue flag 
An hoisted the stars an stripes. 

When South Carolina did secede 
An surely did go out 
The yankee boys must have bin asleep 
They had not whipt her hack 

I take my stand in Richmond 
An Swift creek II persue 
I do not care for VVhitford 

Nor none of his cowardly erew 

The gurrillas hates the Buffalowst 

But th"v dont care for that 

If they dont shut their mouths an let them alone 

They will make them clere the trade 

There is good many men in this war 
By the names of Hill 
An if the Yankees <] us get them 
They will lam them how to drill 

•wuitford was a Guerrilla captain. 

[■Buffaloes were North. Caroliua Union volunteers. 



|i ii Ml l)i \i:v. 

There Is good many men here 

l . he nai »f Whitford two 

An n hen the yankees does gel i hem 
Thej will put them rebels through 

The secesh girls look might; loansum 
Walking the road in there homemade homespun 
The I nion girls donl look sad 
Walkingthe t« - ; i ■ 1 in there yankee p}ad 

An w hen ill- war i~ end< d 
The guerrillas thej \\ ill say 
Thej rather fighl the d( \ il 
Than the boys thai gains the day 

Hold your toungs you seceah ones 
An see n hal n ill be don 
The yankees boys are bound to go 
The whole li<"-i or none 

The Union men looks might) grand 

With there cork heel boots an their gloves on their hands 

The secesh men looks mighty mean 

Going through the woods an never are seen. Chorus, a . . 

Now whatever fault can be found with the above lines, there 
can certainly no limit be found with their loyalty. 

w All I Ni, TO BE KKl.l i:\ ED. 

We keep a small camp guard during the night and this duty 
is assigned to the artillery detail, each gun's compauy taking its 
turn, which brings us on everj third night. There are only four 
jMist>. the guns and magazine, and a> they only go on ;it tattoo 
and come off al reveille, the duty is nol very arduous. The guard 
is divided into two reliefs, one going on the first pari <it' the night 
and the other the latter [part; the duty is simply to keep their 
ears open for anj disturbance among the pickets <»ut in the woods 
and alarm the camp. The reliefs sleep in their quarters and are 
called when wanted. The sergeanl or corporal on dutj occupies 
a small wall tent, in which a candle is kept burning through the 
night. Having my choice of time and il not making anj differ- 
ence to the corporal, I take the latter part.;;- I prefer sleeping 
die firsl part. I have a splendid corporal, I think the best in the 
service; we go along together, and agree firsl rate, lie is will- 
ing to 'I" all the work ami I am willing he should. He posts the 
first relief and then keeps his eyes open until il is time to post 
il,,. second relief, when be posts them and then conies and calls 
me, when I relieve him. My work is now all done; all I have to 
,| ( , [g to lie down and go to sleep or busy myself with m\ reading 
or writing, and call oft the relief at reveille. It' I am too bus} to 
attend to thai duty (which I generally am), they take the respon- 
sibility of relieving themselves, which is a great help to me and 
reliev es me of a great burden of care. 

One night while on this duty the oflicer of the day came in 



My Diary. 101 

and inquired if I would like to take a stroll and make a round of 
the pickets. I replied that 1 should. We started out making 
the round and not being in a hurry did not get hack till daylight. 
I laid down and went to sleep, feeling that everything- was all 
sale and quiet on the Pamlico. About 7 o'clock I was called up 
and told I was wanted at the magazine. I went out and there 
stood Charley, a Roman sentinel amid the wreck of worlds. I 
admired his fidelity, hut I really couldn't commend his judgment 
and no explanation or excuses of mine availed in the least; he 
was going to lie relieved officially, and after he had got through 
with me 1 don't think there wire many more cuss words left in 
him. I certainly felt relieved if he didn't. 

THE ROVER. 
G.ipt. Foss somewhere picked up an old boat and with Jed's 
assistance put it in good repair, rigged up a sail, rated it A 1, and 
named it the Rover. The captain is skipper and .led sailing 
master. She is a long, clipper-built craft, with a large spread of 
canvas and a carrying capacity of ten or twelve persons. With 
a spanking breeze she walks up and down the river like a thing 
of life and makes nothing of sailing right around the little steam- 
er Undine. She makes frequent trips to Rodman's and occasion- 
ally to town. The captain selects the party he wants to take out 
and 1 am sometimes honored with an invitation. We usually 
run alongside the gunboat that lays here and take aboard the 
second assistant engineer, who is a genial, good-natured old fellow, 
full of his fun and stories, and then put for Rodman's. We stop 
there an hour and start for home. On the return trip, the old 
engineer's inventive powers will he a good deal quickened and 
he will suggeJsl various alterations in the rig and sail of the craft, 
which will improve her sailing qualities, all of which Jed readily 
accepts and is going to forthwith adopt, but the next day the 
improvements are all forgotten and never thought of again until 
another return trip from Rodman's. A few days ago a small par- 
ty of us made a halt at Rodman's and found Sergeant Martin in 
command, ffedid the honors, showing us about the camp and 
extending hospitalities in a manner that would have done credit 
to a prince. To my notion Sergeant Martin has got the correct 
idea of holding a command, not to go dry himself nor let his 
friends. 

BIG JIM. 

Big Jim, as he i> called, is a character; genial, charitable, 
good-natured, humorous and generous to a fault. lie is (piite a 
theatrical character and loves to deal in romance and tragedy, 
and he caters to the mirthful and fun-loving among the hoys. 
lie does not amount to much as a soldier, hut that is more his 
misfortune than from any unwillingness, lb' is of enormous pro- 
portions and very fat, tipping the scale at 250 pounds. He is 



102 Mi Diary. 

&orelj troubled with chafing when drilling or on the march, and 
for thai reason is excused from prettj much .-ill duty. He is a 
sorl of independent corps, doing duty when he feels like it; he 
will often go <>ut in the woods and relieve a man on picket who 
happens to be taken sick. Fie sometinn - has a feeling come over 
him thai he would like to gel away from the noise and btistl 
the camp, and be alone by himself. At such tim •- he lakes Ins 
rifle and goes to the little point, some IU(J r >ds down the river, 
where there is a pickel post. Here he will stay two or three days 
at a time, caring for no company excepl al night, and am 
himself with fishing, reading and writing. He has become so en- 
amoured of this kind of life, thai he has taken the contracl to do 
the picket duty al that posl and has made it his permanenl resi- 
dence, coming up to camp only I wo or three times a week to 
tiir boys and gel his rations, lie lias opened a trading posl down 
there, and trades with the natives who touch there as they <• 
in their I mats from up the bay or cove which a from there. 

He has buill himself a log house, and a sign over the door r< 

ii paid for coon skins," of which and other peltries he has 
collected quite a quantity, and intends sending them to Boston 
markets. 

II l.'l.ol , ,||. 

Sept. 20. Our last furloughed men have returned, and F 
have the promise of one nexl week, and am congratulating my- 
self on the prospecl of once more seeing home. I am anticipa- 
ting a ureal <le;il when I gel home; among other things the 
pleasure of once more sitting down to a clean, well-spread table, 
with a good square dinner before me. In anticipation of such an 

it, I send by this mail a small bill of tare of such dishes as I 
think I shall relish, and have ordered them to be ready and smok- 
ing hot <>n my arm al : 

Roast— Sirloin of beef, spare rib of pork, breast of veal, turkej with 
cranberrj sauce, chicken. 

ed lilueri Ii, oyster dressing. Chicken pie. 

Boiled— Halibut. Fried— Pi 

( Ihieken salad. Lobster salad. 

'i ,ved, fried, escalloped. Clam chowder. 

27 dozen I river oysters on tbe balf shell. 

M.i Ii d p toiled on ions, beets, turnips, squash, sweet corn,string 

beans, succotash, stewed tomatoes, tomatoes sliced with \ inegar or sugar, ap- 
ple dumplings with sugar sauce; mince, apple, berry, lemon, cream and 
i pie. 

Also one moderate^ sized pumpkin pie, saj about thirtj six inches across 
and ii": less than eight inches deep; that is as small a pumpkin pie as 1 
care to i»ii ber w it h. 

Ora iles, | •< -; » i ^ . grapes, chestnuts, walnuts, cider. 

V U. \ . boiled sail pork, beef Boup or rice and molasses. I don't 
r for that. 

With thai bill of fare, and such other things as my folks will 
naturally think of, I reckon I can make a tolerable dinner. 



My Diaky 



108 



("IIAI'TKK VI. 



Newport News, V a.. Dec. 1, 1863. On receipt of my fur- 
lough, which came promptly to hand at the appointed time, I, in 
company with eight others from the three companies, felt H 
Point for Massachusetts. I had 25 days at home, a part of which 
I used up on the lounge, with chilis and fever, and listening 
the expressions of sympathy from callers. Ordinarily, when a 
person is sick, it is pleasant to be surrounded by sympathizing 
friends, but a person with chills and fever does not want sympa- 
thy; that only makes him mail. What he wants is whiskey 
and quinine, and the more whiskey the better. 1 was asked if the 
disease ever terminated fatally. 1 replied that the mosl provok- 
ing thing about it was, there was not the slightesl da rger >f dying 
from it. After recovering from the chills and fever, I -enjoyed 
the balance of my visit very much, and reported hack in New 
York the nexl m truing after the expiration of my furlough. 

Arriving in New York, 1 went directly to the New England 
room- on Broadway. These rooms are a kind of free hotel for 
New England soldiers en route through New York, but will ac- 
commodate any others when they are not full. The rooms are 
well fitted ii]) and there is a spa< ions loft or hall which is used for 
sleeping with 100 or more single cots, on each of which is a good 
mattress, pillow, a pair of woolen blankets and white spread. In 
this room a man is in attendance day and night to attend to the 
wants of patrons, preserve order and look after things generally. 
The dining hall will seat about 200 persons, and tin- tallies are 
weH supplied with plain, substantial, wholesome food. Another 
room is used for a sick room or hospital, and is Idled up with a 
U'\\- cots and lounges, and the tables are well supplied with hooks 
and newspapers. This room is presided over by a kind-hearted, 
sympathetic lady, who was formerly a hospital matron in McClel- 
lan's peninsular campaign. Besides, there is the office and bag- 
gage room, when- one's knapsack or other baggage is put away 
and cheeked. The owner takes his check and gives no further 
thought or care of his baggage until wanted. In addition to 
these, are all other necessary conveniences. These rooms were 
fitted up and are supported by the patriotic generosity of New 
Englanders, residents in New York, and many are the thanks and 
blessings they receive from their beneficiaries. Here ! found 
Spencer and Lewis, who were furloughed with me, and who had 
just arrived. The < lerk told us we must report to a certain quar- 
termaster up town for instructions. We reported ; he examined 
our papers, endorsed on the backs "reported hack all right and on 
time/" and told us we must report at the transportation office 



104 



M\ Diary 



down mar the battery park. We reported, and were informed 
their u a- no transportation waiting, bnl we must report every 
morning in order to avail ourselveB of the firsl I »< *:ii thai left. 

1:1 • I I \ I No ON OUB MILITARY. 

There were 100 or more Soldiers waiting transportation to 
N'ewliein. besides hundreds of others for all parts of the army. 
The officer in charge of the office would ii" more than gel his 
coal off am! sleeves rolled up, ready For business in the morning, 
when we would appeal- to him. lie would gel rid of us by a 
wave of his hand and "No boat for Newbern." This continued 
for Be vera] mornings, until he became tired of seeing us and hung 
a card on the door with "No boal for Newbern." 

One morning the card was off and all hands made a grand 
charge inside. He gave us the cheering information that Gen. 
! ter had moved his old brigade from Newbern to Fortress 
Monroe, and he would give transportation by way of Baltimore 
(d as many of ns as belonged t<> that brigade. No one seemed to 
know jusl what to do, ami no reply was made to the statement. 
After waiting a few moments, he inquired what we were going 
to do. As nil .me spoke, I veutu'red the remark that I had re- 
ceived no official information of the removal of the brigade or oi 
my regimenl and until further orders, 1 thoughl I had better stick 
to the order in my furlough and report in North Carolina. That 
seemed to clear away the cloud thai bung over the boys, and we 
were soon on t he si reel again. 

The nexl morning, however, the clouds thickened again. 
The officer said lm had reliable information thai the 23d, 25th 
and 'J7th Massachusetts and 9th New Jersey regiments, together 
with the 3d New York cavalry, were al Fortress Monroe; he was 
going to give orders for rations and transportation by waj oi 
Baltimore to all those belonging to those regiments, and we 
could come in the afternoon ami gel them. I inquired if he waa 
authorized to order ns to report at Fortress Monroe. That gave 
him a sort of Mind staggers. lie said he was not really, bul it 
would b( i1 enough, especially if we were anxious to join 

our regiments. 

I replied. "We are anxious to join our regiments, bul as ev- 
erything in military has to run in its regular groove, and as one 
order holds good until another is given, it would hardly look mili- 
tary to be acting on our own judginenl and hearsaj stories, and 
going off across lots, reporting somewhere else than where our 

i - say.' 1 

"You seem to be righl on your military. Do you always pay 
as st riei observance to on lers '.'" 

••That is the \\a\ u e have been educated, sir." 

Thai question settled, we were soon on the pave again. 



]\Jy Diary. 105 

an encounteb with a policeman. 

During our long wait for transportation we lm<l a fine chance 
of doing the city, an opportunity of which we .-nailed 
ourselves in the most thorough manner. We visited all places of 
interest and everywhere that there was anything to be seen or 
heard. One day Spencer and I, after a long ramble over the city, 
wandered into City Hall park, and feeling rather tired sat down 
on the City Hall steps to rest and watch the passing throng. We 
had not sat there many minutes when a policeman came along, 
and pointing to us with his cane, said : "You can't sit there," and 
passed along. We regarded that as a sort of camp rumor and 
kept our sitting. He presently returned, and coming up to us in 
a very imperious manner, said: "How many times do you fellows. 
want to he told that you can't sit there V' 1 I looked at him, and 
with all the innocence and simplicity 1 could assume, I said : u You 
see, sir, that we do sit here." That shot struck below the water 
line, and he then said : "What I mean is, you are not allowed to 
sit there. 1 " "Ah ! in that case we will remove hence, as you will 
observe by our raiment that we are preservers, rather than 
breakers, of law.''' 

A VISIT TO BARNITm's. 

The outside of Barnum's Museum is always covered with 
immense show bills and people have become so accustomed to 
them that they attract but little attention, unless it is some new 
and curious thing he has got on exhibition. Noticing a picture 
of an enormous sea lion and reading glowing descriptions of him 
in the newspapers, I remarked to Spencer: "We had better take 
that in." Now Barnum's is a good place to go, as it is a highly 
moral show, and inexpensive — twenty-five cents giving one the 
-whole range from basement to attic- Taking those things into 
consideration he thought we had better go, SO one evening we 
went up. 

Exchanging our quarters at the office for tickets we were ad- 
mitted to the great show. After strolling around awhile and 
looking at some of the minor curiosities, we went down into the 
basement where is located the aquarium. We soon found the 
sea lion. He laid on a large platform with his head towards the 
grating and about three feet from it. At the rear end of the 
platform was a large tank of water where he could bathe. lie 
was a harmless looking lion enough and resembled a mule as much 
as a lion, lie looked like pictures 1 have seen of the walrus, and 
laid there, a huge jelly-looking mass apparently dead, but on close 
inspect ioirrespirat ion was observable. We tried to stall him up, 
but he seemed to prefer quiet, and no motion with our arms and 
caps had the slightest effect on him. I hail an uncontrollable de- 
sire to see him go into the tank, and looked in vain all around the 



106 M\ Dinky. 

place for something to stir him up with. Presently :i gentleman 
came along and ^t < >| >| ■»■• I t<> look al him. 1 1 « - had an umbrella and 
1 asked him to ^tir the creature up and see him go into the water. 
Bui li«- thought he had better not, saying it was probably against 
the rules for visitors to disturb him. I said thai wi - probably the 
case, bul we had paid our money i" come into the show and 
wanted to see all the tricks, and if he would lei me take the um- 
brella I would stir him up and take the responsibility. Bul he 
declined, and moved on. 

A.brigh1 thought now struck me ; I would lill his eye with 
tobacco juice and see whatcffeet thai would have, [chewed up 
:i large piece « ► t' tobacco; filling my mouth with the juice and 
getting a beautiful range on liis left eye, lei drive, covering il com- 
pletely, and i" ni\ utter astonishment thai creature never so much 
as winked. I was dumbfounded a1 the resull of my experiment, 
as this was the firsl ereature I hadeverseen which had eyes that 
a little tobacco juice in them would ii"t make things livel) for :i 
few minutes. I can accounl for my failure in no other way than 
that, being :i marine animal, there is probably some kind of Kim 
or covering over the eye thai protects it from foreign su 
while in the water. Spencer laughed al my discomfiture, and 

said perhaps w< uM find something else I would have better 

Inck experiment ing with. 

Strolling around upstairs we came to the mummj cabinet. 
\uw I like mummies and am always interested in tin-in: ; 
have a habit of minding their own business the steadiesl oi any 
class of people I ever me1 with, besides they are always civil t<> 
callers and are free from the disputes, quarrels, gossipping, slan- 
ders and other vices with which our gem ration is afflicted. They 
are a very ancient people, and in their time were doubtless an in- 
telligent and highly respectable clash of citizens, bul they don't 
amounl to much now ; they :irv too far behind the times and I 
don'l think il would be of much use for them to try to catch n|>. 
In this cabinel was quite a large collection and thej looked black 
:iii.| dirty as though they neglected their baths and toilets; they 
all looked so much alike il was difficult to distinguish their sex. 
I think it' they could be taken ou1 and washed and dressed up in 
fashionable clothing they would make <|iiitc a respectable appear- 
ance. 

I looked around to find some biographies <>t' these people bul 
could not. I called the attention of an attendanl and inquired of 
him if there was any. He replied there was u^wr that he knew 
of. I then asked: "Is Mr. Burnum aboul the plac< ? I should 
like to see him." Il< stated thai Mr. Barmim was away and in- 
quired my business with him. I said I wanted to suggesl to Mr. 
Barnum thai if he would hang a biography on every one of these 

nun ies il would be the most taking thing he ever had, no1 ex-i 

cepting the What is it. This attendanl somehow didn'l seem t<> 



My Diary. 107 

get interested in Barnum's interests, and dodged <>IT out of the 
way. J pointed oul the largest one to Spencer and said: "That 
gentleman was once a soldier and did provost duty in the city of 
Thebes 3000 years ago." He made no reply but kept looking at 
it and presently i heard him muttering to himself: "Can that be 
possible ? Brave < »1 « 1 fossil !" 

We got up into the exhibition room, near the close of the 
play; they were playing the ghost. I should think it might be a 
good enough play, but the acting was not all that a connoisseur 
would accept, hut then it was good enough for soldiers and the 
price. I thought the ubost illusion was very cleverly performed, 
but Spencer said it was tame compared with the Gum swamp 
trick. 

off for \kwi;ki:n. 

After waiting thirteen days a boat arrived and we were in>w 
off. The boat leaves in the afternoon and all hands go down to 
the trans) Mill at ion office to get our orders and say good live to the 
genial office]- in command. I noticed that my draft for rations 
was on the Park barracks. Now I had a dim recollection and a 
sort of instinctive horror of those barracks, and it occurred to 
me that I had seen down on the Battery park, near the water, a 
small building where was kept firsl class rations, which were dealt 
out to officers, and other attaches of the army as department and 
sutler's clerks and such like nobility. I suggested to Spencer 
that we go down there: we could li\ up some kind of a storj 
and perhaps succeed in getting our rations. 

Now Spencer is a conscientious young man and objects i<> 
anything that does not dovetail in the exact line of right and 
bono]-. He objected to going, saying we should have to tell some 
extravaganl stories and then get nothing, and perhaps gel ourselves 
into some trouble. I said we would make only a plain statement, 
of facts; that we are living in perilous times and that the end 
Would justify the means. 

\\ e wenl down there and the only regalia the supervisor of 
the place had on that denoted any rank in the army was a pair of 
blue pants; just what rank he held we were unable to determine 
by those pants. We showed him our orders. lie looked at them 
ami said: ''What are you here for? <b> up to the Park barracks- 
where your orders say." 

"Yes, I know: but we have just come from there; they are 
all full up there and are running short of rations; they sent us 
down here." 

"Don't believe a word of it; they have no business to be 
short of rations up there and have no business to send you here, 
anyway, and I don't believe they did. 17 

"You, sir, bave a perfect righl to believe just what you please, 
but here is an older for rations; the boat leaves in about an hour 



108 Mi Diary. 

and if we don'1 have the r: 1 1 i « » 1 1 ^ we shall n< >t go in her, and it' we 
don't go il will be somebodj 's faull ." 

Thinking perhaps thai tracing out faults might prove un- 
pleasant, he pointed ns i" ;i tub of boiled corned beef and a bas- 
ke1 of ^>t't bread, telling us to take as little as would do as. To 
allaj an} fears he mighl have on thai score, we said we did not 
care to burden ourselves with any superfluous freight. We not 
•<>mIy took the meal and bread he told us to, 1 >u t helped ourselves 
liberally to some boiled ham and raw onions thai stood near by 
againsl his mosl emphatic protest. So. with some lying on our 
pari and considerable swearing on his part, we succeeded in sup- 
plying ourselves with first-class rations. 

W 1 hi i we came out, Spencer said: ••! was shocked to hear 
\ ou lie bo." 

■•I tul I have ii"i been lying." 

"Well, then, I should like to know wli.it you would call it?" 

"Whal I -;ii<l mighl possibly be twisted and contorted into 
something thai would give il the appearance of lying, but I have 
only made a few positive statements, and :i> I said before the <-i h 1 
jusi ifies t he means." 

That statemenl seemed to satisfy him, and a little while after 
we were aboard the steamer Albany, bound for Newbern. Stand- 
ing on the quarter-deck as we steamed down the harbor and 
through i he narrows, 

We watched the big city with curious eye, 

'Till the lasl towering dome had gone out in the sky. 

We arrived al Newbern after a four days 1 passage and re- 
ported to the provosl marshal, Capt. Denny of our regiment, who 
welcomed us back and gave us the liberty of the city. He in- 
formed us the regimen 1 was a1 Fortress Monroe,and if we had 
only known it while in New i'ork, we could have saved ourselves 
the trouble of coining here and having to go back. We were 
somewhal surprised al thi^ intelligence, and disappointed .-it nol 
know in- il while there, and saving ourselves all this unnecessary 
trouble and delay. But, however, we musl pul up with it. and 
take, the next boal back which leaves for Fortress Monroe. 

After a four days' visit In re we went aboard the little steamer 
Vidette, bound for Fortress Monroe. We had aboard aboul 200 
soldiers and about I"" Confederate prisoners. We lefl in the af- 

ter i and the next morning were. -it Hatteras inlet. The sea 

w:is |,r,-ii\ rough, and in crossing the swash we fouled with a 
schooner, carrying awaj her bowsprit and losing one ol our an- 
chors. The old captain, who by the w a\ was a jollj old fellow, 
said he never had so good luck before in getting through the in- 
let : he had onl) I""' :|| i anchor and taken off a schooner's bow- 
sprit. As we went pasl the battery, he yelled out to them to fish 
iiji his amhor against he gol hack. 



My Diary. 109 

The following morning we were at Fortress Monroe and here 
learned that our regiment was at Newport News, at the mouth of 
the .lames river. We re-shipped on another boat, and an hour 
after were receiving the ovations and congratulations of our com- 
rades, after an absence of nearly two months. 

NEWPORT NEWS. 

Dec. 10. I am now on the sacred soil of old Virginia, and 
my lirst care will be to seek an introduction to some of the F. F. 
Vs. What this place derived its name from, or whyit was named 
at all, I have not been aide to learn. It was simply a plantation 
before its occupation by Federal troops, and perhaps the name is 
as gpo 1 as any to distinguish it by. Our camp is near the river, 
and only a few rods from us lie the wrecks of the frigates Cum- 
berland and Congress, sunk by the rebel ram Merrimac. The 
Cumberland lies in deep water out of sight, hut the deck of the 
Congress is seen and often visited by the hoys at low water. 
Since the occupation of this place by Federal troops it has grown 
into what they call down tins way a town, containing quite a col- 
lection of rough hoard store-houses, sutler's shops, negro shanties 
and horse sheds. A boat runs from here to Fortress Monroe 
every day, and three times a week to Norfolk ; the distance to 
either place is about the same, some twelve miles. 

For the first time since the war began, the oyster fishing is 
being prosecuted, and Hampton Roads are alive with oyster 
schooners. The oysters have had a chance to grow, and are now 
abundant and of good size and flavor. Newport News was the 
first place in Virginia, except Washington, that was occupied by 
Federal troops, and it was from here that a part of old lien's fa- 
mous Big Bethel expedition started. 

During my absence, this military department lias gone all 
wrong. Gen. Foster has been ordered to Knoxville, Tenn., and 
Gen. Butler has superseded him to this command. I am not 
pleased with the change. Gen. Foster was a splendid man and 
fine officer, and I would rather takemy chances with a regular army 
officer than with an amateur. The first year of the war Gen. 
Butler was the busiest and most successful general we had, 
but since then he has kind o' taken to niggers and trading. As a 
military governor he is a nonesuch, and in that role has gained a 
greal fame, especially in all the rebellious states. He is a lawyer 
and a man of gi-eat executive ability, and can not only make laws 
but can see to it that they are observed, but as a commander of 
troops in the field, he is not just such a man as I should pick out 
He had a review of our brigade the other day, and his style of 
soldiering caused considerable fun among the boys who had' been 
used to seeing Gen. Foster. He rode on to the field with a great 
dash, followed by staff enough for two major-generals. He looks 
very awkward on a horse and wears a soft hat ; when he salutes 



I 111 



M^ Diary 



the colore he lifts bis hat by the crown clear off his head instead 
of simph touching the rim. The boys think he is hardly up to 
their ideas of a general, but as tliey are not supposed \<> know 
anything, they will have to :i<linii thai he is a great general. He 
is full "i orders find laws (regardless of arm} regulations) in the 
government of his department, :in<l hi< recenl order in relation to 
darkies till- two columns of newspaper print, and is all the 
fastidious lovers of darkies in all New England could d< 
Hunter and Fremonl are the meresl pigmies beside Ben in their 
can- of darkies. 

i: i -i:\ lis riXG. 

.Jwi \\:\ 1. L864. We have no^ entered on the last year of 
our soldier service and are lool ing forward to the i nd, and may 
it nol only end our service as soldiers, bul the \\ ar as well, \\ hi n 

both sides cai ;et between the lines, shake hands, smoke the 

pipe of peace and together sign a long and lasting truce, and all 
say homeward bound. Bui I am sermonising, and however much 
thai happ} end may be desired, the indications now are thai it 
will not be realized. For a month pasl our regiment has been a 
good deal excited. Aboul thirty days ago orders were received 
from the war department at Washington, soliciting re-enlistments 
from among the soldiers of the old regimentsof 1861. Liberal 
money inducements were offered, and in addition the pr senl term 

of service would end on re-enlistment; the $100 I nty due al 

the expiration of the three years term could be drawn, together 
with a thirty 'lay's furlough. Lieut. Woodworth of company II 
was appointed recruiting officer, bul up to the presenl time there 
have been bul few enlistments. We all understood the terms and 
all thus far have been lefl tree to act according to their own judg- 
ment. The officers have nol seemed to take much interest in it 
and. have nol used their influence to gel the boys to enlist bul 
have given advice when soughl for. [f a man re-enlists he has 
some motive for it ; if he does not he has his reasons, and both 
ma\ be equally patriotic. I shall nol re-enlist, and m\ reasons 
are, first, I have no desire to monopolize all the patriotism there 
i-. bul am willing to give other- a chance. M\ second reason is 
thai after I have served three years my duty to the country has 
been perfomied and my nexl duty is at h with m_\ family. 

Jan. 14. LTp to this date aboul "J" 1 ' of our men have re- 
enlisted, and today the first detachmenl lefl for home on their 

thirty days' furlough. The} were ace panied by three of the 

officers, one of whom was Lieut. McCarter of company I!. I 

hope they will have a g I time and enjoy themselves. Orders 

keep coming from headquarters al the fori to hurry up enlist- 
ments and some of them are of a rat her threatening character. 

.I\\. IT. The balance of there-enlisted nun left for home 
today, several of the officers goins with them. We have now 



My Diary. Ill 

gol <>ur ultimatum, either enlist or go into exile. An order was 
received intimating that as enlistments Beeraed about through in 
tins regiment, we would be more useful at Yorktown than here, 
and for us to be ready to march in heavy marching order at any 
time; hut enlistments still drag. 

Jan. 18. The order has arrived and we are under heavy 
marching orders for Yorktown, which is 30 miles distant and 
where, it is said, we shall probably all die of malarial fever or 
other contagious diseases. But there is one redeeming feature to 
the order; that is, if we will enlist, or three-fourths of those re- 
ported for duty will enlist, then they can all go home together as 
a regiment, while those not enlisting will he scut into banishment, 
the non-coms reduced to the ranks and permanently assigned to 
other organizations during their terms of enlistment. 

Jan. 2D. Yesterday and today have been busy days at Camp 
Upton. The idea of going home as a regiment has found favor 
with the officers, and as this is the last day of grace they have 
been raising heaven and earth to get us to enlist. They have had 
us out on tiie parade ground using all their powers of persuasion 
ami eloquence for enlistments, and have succeeded in enlisting 
nearly the whole regiment. I have reported these speeches and 
when I get them fixed up with all the necessary embellishments 
and illustrations, they will make an interesting chapter of litera- 
ture. 

Jan. 21. It now appears there are 225 of us. who go into 
exile. We are to take all our earthly effects with us and get 
them along as best we can, notwithstanding a boat goes around 
with our camp equipage and might just as well take us, hut that 
would he no punishment for our stubbornness. In justice to our 
officers, however, I learn that they endeavored to gel transporta- 
tion for our knapsacks hut were not successful. We took our 
last dinner with the hoys at Camp Upton, and at "2 p. m. were in 
line awaiting marching orders. Capt. Parkhurst is in command; 
Lieuts. Johnson and Saul, with Assistant Surgeon Hoyt accom- 
pany us. As we stand waiting orders the officers and hoys gath- 
er around us and a feeling of sadness seems to pervade the 
whole crowd at the thought that this is the dissolution of the old 
regiment. Mutual handshakings and best wishes are exchanged, 
we say good-bye and move off. 

And so they parted, 
The angel up to heaven and Adam to his bower. 

Till: FAMOUS MARCH OF TIIK FAMOUS TWO HUNDRED. 

Williamsburg, Va., Jan. •_ ; ">. Leaving Newport News on 
the afternoon of the "Jlst, we made a march of ahout ten miles, 
reaching Little Bethel just before dark, when we halted and put 
up in an old church building for the night. Little Bethel contains 
beside the church an old grist and saw mill, a blacksmith shop 



11 -J My Diary. 

and three small houses, all in a rather dilapidated condition. 
There was no enemy within Ion miles of us, but Capt. Parkhurst, 

either as a matter of form or through fori E habit, put out :i 

I'm pickets. The old church had long ago been stripped of its 
seats and pulpit, if ii ever had any, leaving the whole floor unob- 
structed. After supper and getting a little rested, a dance was 
proposed. A gallery extended across one end, and <>ii the front 
of this the candles were thickly set, lighting up the old church in 
fine style. One of our German comrades of Company G had :i 
violin and furnished the music. Sets were formed and the fun 
commenced. The pickets outside, hearing the sounds of revelry 
within, left their posts and came in, and standing their rifles in a 
corner threw off their equipments and joined in the dance. The 
captain remonstrated al such unlawful proceedings, but the cry 
was "Never mind the pickets! on with the dance! lei fun be un- 
restrained." The dance was kept up until the candles burned 
low, when we spread our blankets and laid down for rest. 

In the morning we found outside live men with their horses 
and carts, waiting to sell us oysters. Fortunately we were the 
possessors of a tew scraps of paper bearing the signature of 
tjncle Samuel. With a portion of this paper we boughl the 
men's oysters, and after breakfasl we chartered them to carry our 
knapsacks to Yorktown, thereby nullifying the order of the great 

Mogul at Fortress M -oe, and I have nol the slightest doubt 

thai if he knew of it lie would hang every one of those men for 
giving aid and comfort to the incorrigible. 

Leavina Little Bethel we marched over McClellan's famous 
corduroy road through white oak swamp, coming oul at Warwick 
court house. This is a county seat, containing a small court 
house situated in a pretty grove of trees, a jail, church, half a 
dozen houses and a blacksmith shop. We arrived at the forks of 
the roads, a mile below and in full \ iew of historic old Yorktown, 
aboul the middle of the afternoon. Here we were mel l>\ an 
officer and commanded to hall till further orders. I thought 
this was as near as they dared have us come the firsl dav tor fear 
the malaria would strike us too Suddenly. 

From here the dim outlines of Washington's old intrench 
ments could lie t raced and near bj was wlial appeared to lie an 
angle in the line on which guns were probably mounted and 
which commanded the whole open plain between here and town. 
Now it did not require a great stretch of the imagination to go 
back to those days and see those brave men toiling and suffering 
behind those works, to build up for themselves and their posterity 
a country and a name. I could sec in niv mind the haughty 
Cornwallis march oul upon this plain, surrendering his army and 
his sword to Washington, in the last grand act in the drama of 
the American revolution. I>ut how is it today? Yonder rebel 



My Diary. 113 

fort tells in thunder tours how well their degenerate sons appre- 
ciate the legacy. 

About dusk an orderly rode up, bringing an order for us to 
proceed to Williamsburg, some fifteen miles further up the coun- 
try. We tried to get the captain to stop here till morning and go 
through the next day, but it was of no use; he had got his orders 
to march and was going through tonight. I could not set' that it 
was a military necessity to force the inarch, and after we had 
gone three or four miles my knapsack begau to grow heavv and I 
grew tired. I halted by the roadside and said 1 was goingto put 
up for the night and if any one would like to keep me company 
I should lie pleased to have them. About twenty rallied to my 
standard. After the column had passed we stepped through a 
low hedge of bushes into a small open space, surrounded by high 
bushes which served as a shelter from the winds. Here we spread 
our blankets and laid ourselves down to forget in our slumbers 
the weight of our knapsacks. The stars looked down on us and 
the watchful eye of the Almighty was the only sentinel. 

When we awoke in the morning the rising sun's bright ray 
was peeping through the bushes. The first object which met our 
gaze was a lean, lank, sandy-eomplexioned, long-haired native, 
who stood peering over the bushes at us. The first salutation 
that greeted his ears was, "Who are you an 1 what do you want ?" 
He replied, "1 seed you was down yere, ami thought I would 
come down and see if I could get some 'baocer?" Looking up 
Ave saw a house out in the field some distance off, and asked him 
ifheresided there. He said he did. We gave him some tobacco and 
inquired about the roads and distance to Williamsburg. We in- 
quired if there were any bushwhackers about here? He said 
''There mought be once in a while one found." Then we put on 
a ferocious look and said they had better not be found by us 
unless they wished to join the antediluvian society and have their 
bones scattered in every graveyard from here io Jerusalem. The 
old chap's eyes stuck out and he began to edge oif, thinking per- 
haps we had got on a thick coat of war paint. We made our 
coffee and started on our journey, and by easy stages came up 
with the boys in the afternoon. They had pitched the camp ami 
got it all fixed up and naiin d Camp Hancock. 

I thought the capt lin was as glad to see us as anyone, but 
he put on a stern look and inquired w here we had been an 1 way 
We fell out. We told him we were tired and lay down by the 
side of the road to rest and take a nap. He lectured us on the 
enormity of such proceedings, telling us we had committed a very 
flagrant breach of good order and military despotism. We as- 
sented to all the captain said, but kept thinking all the time that 
as we were a sort of outcasts, did not belong anywhere and were 
under no particular command, there wouldn't much come of it. 
8 



lit 



M\ Diary. 



com- 



V1BH OR8. 

.I\n.'J7. We had beeu here only two days when our*/, 
in « 1 1 1 seu.se and judgmenl were still further imposed upon by three 
hi our former officers from the New-, soliciting enlistments. 
The} probably thought thai a fifty mile march and being in a 
Btrange city had perhaps taken the stiffening oul of ussomewhat, 
but the) were nol long in fiuding out that thai was a delusion. 
Capt. Parkbursl laughed :it them, telling them the) bad come to 
the wrong market to peddle their wares; the boys crowded 
around them, giving them scarcely breathing room, and jokingly 
told them they had picked some chickens the night before, but 
had go1 no tar, bul perhaps molasses would answer for ;t substi- 
tute. Finding they had come on a fool's errand, they thru want- 
ed Surgeon Hoyl to put as mam of us mi the sick list as possible, 
thereby increasing the working force at the News. The surgeon 
tol<l them thai men who could make a fifty mile march, carrying 
heavy knapsacks, were ool supposed to be very seriously indis- 
posed. Finding the leopard hadn't changed his spots, they left, 
taking with them two captives. 

A CHANGE OF COMMANDERS. 

Jan. 29. Today we were paraded and invited to give our 
attention to orders, Major Mulcay of the L39th New York vol- 
unl sers appeared on the ground, and read his orders relieving 
Capt. Parkhursl of the command. He then assumed command, 
and had a short drill and dress parade. Of course we put the 
best side out, lo give the major a Eavorable impression. He com- 

plimented us for our g I drill and neat appearance. Orders 

were read tor a long and rnpid march ; of course thai is one of our 
kind and we are expected to go OU it. The major tells as we 
shall stay here a few days and then be assigned to his regiment. 

SPECULATION) S. 

Feb. 1. Since being here we have had bul little else ti> do 
than make lip i Mir diaries, write letters and talk over the situation. 
The last link is broken that bound us to din- old regiment. Capt. 
Parkhurst, Lieuts. Johnson and Saul and Doctor Hoyl lefl us 
yesterday, and we are now thinking of applying for admission to 
the orphans' home. The hoys are all at sea, without chart or 
compass, and can form no idea .if what kind of a landing they 
will make. The non-coms, of whom there are quite a number, 
are a good deal exercised over their fate, and are consulting to* 
gether much of the time. I tell them there is no use trying to 
lift tie' veil, hut In take thing's as they come and tl'USl to luck. 

We can look forward to the end, which is only a few months 
hence, and during thai time we shall probablj nol be very much 
worse off than we have been, and certainly can be no worse <<\i 

than the emu d we are in. 



My Diary. 115 

Tn a talk with Corporal Whipple and a few others, I said I 
had no fears of our losing our rank, that is if Gen. Sherman is 
g I military authority, which I think he is. Sometime last sum- 
mer there was some talk at the war department at Washington 
in regard to consolidating the old regiments. In a letter from 
Gen. Sherman to the adjutant-general, he said it would be the 
worst thing for the army that could be done, for in consolidating 
the old regiments, they would lose a large number of well-trained 
and efficient soldiers whose places could not easily be filled. For 
instance, two regiments are consolidated in one, all the offic srs 
from colonel to corporal in one of them are lost. They would 
have to be mustered out and sent home, thereby losing upwards* 
of 150 well-trained men; and he advised instead of consolidating 
or forming new organizations, to recruit the old ones to their full 
strength. Now if what he said is law, then when two organiza- 
tions are consolidated, or one of them is permanently assigned to 
the other, then one of them loses its officers. Therefore, if we are 
permanently assigned to some other regiment, and are not wanted 
as non-commissioned officers, then they can muster us out and 
send us home. 

We have dress parades every night and keep hearing some- 
thing about the coming march. Whatever it is or wherever we 
are going, it is getting pretty well advertised. Every night at 
dress parade, orderlies are seen flying about from cam]) to cam]), 
carrying their orders, and citizens are standing around with their 
mouths and ears open catching every word, and if they have any 
communications with the outside world (which they probably 
have), then this expedition, whatever it is, will not amount to 
much. If this thing is being managed by Gen. Butler, which 
from the pomp and circumstance attending it certainly looks a 
good deal like him, then in my opinion, it will be another Big 
Bethel affair. 

CAMP WEST. 

Feb. 5. Yesterday afternoon Cam]) Hancock became a 
thing of the past. Under command of Major Mulcay, we 
marched on to the parade ground of the 139th New York during 
their dress parade, and before it was dismissed, the major 
inarched us up and introduced us to Col. Roberts. The colonel 
received us cordially, and complimented us tor our soldierly bear- 
ing and the good appearance of our arms, equipments and uni- 
forms. We then listened to the reading of an order, assigning us 
temporarily for duty to this command. A gleam of light now 
dawned on us. Col. Roberts again addressed us, saying we were 
here only during the absence of our own regiment, and would 
hold the same rank and perform the same duties we had done in 
our own regiment. He added: "Although among strangers, with 
not a single officer of your own, I know by your appearance and 



116 My Diary. 

from what I have heard of you, thai you will as willingl) observe 
your orders and perform your duties as cheerfully as you have 
done heretofore." Then addressing his own regiment, he said: 
'♦Keceive these men cordially, sharing with them your quarters 
and blankets, :iii<I in all ways treating them as you would liki to 
be treated under similar circumstances." We made the wdkiu 
ring with cheers for Col. Uoberts and his command, which were 
responded to b} the L39th. After this another order was read, 
stating thai the long ex] ected march would commence tomorrow 
morning, the 6th. Col. Roberts, after addressing a fev* remarks 
to lii:- own r< giment, turned u> us and said: "To you of the 25th 
^Massachusetts, I have nothing to say. ^ ou know your duty and 
J .-sin satisfied you will perform it." 

We w< re then divided off into parties which would equalize 
tlif companies of 1 1 1 * - regiment; .nice, aboul -■>. were -cut 

orl IVIagruder, which is only a shorl distance away. A dozen 
others :iint myself were assigned to company I, Capt. Phillips. 
The boys were warmly welcomed, and all sel aboul introducing 
themselves to each other and getting acquainted. This camp is 
constructed of small log houses, with board Hoors and glass win- 
dows. 'I he houses are furnished with stoves, chairs, stools, table 
and sleeping bunks. The officers' quarters are built of logs with 
the bark lefl on, and are large and roomy. Some of them are 
two stories, others are neal little cottages buill in Gothic style, 
:in<l .-ill present :i ne.it. attractive and artistic appearance. These 
hoy es are all supplied and furnished with home comforts, some 
(,i them containing cabinel organs. The officers have with them 
their wives, sisters and other female relatives, who fane*} the ro- 
mance and rough experience of a soldier-" camp. 'I his is a 
Brooklyn regiment; it has been out bul little more than ;i year 
and has been stationed here all this time, so the men have had 
the opportunity to fix up their camp to suil them. Their first 
and only service was with Gen. I>i\. when he vvenl up the coun- 
try towards Uichmond in the fall of l s <i"J. Since then tin \ I 
done picket duiv around here, and some scouting up in the woods 
beyond t he ion n. 

I I,. \ seem to have :i mortal horror of bushwhackers, and 
say the woods above here are full oi them, with some guerilla 
bands. It would seem from whal these fellows say thai toe prin- 
ciple business of these guerilla bands is to look out for prisoners 
escaping from liichmond, and in connection with hush\ 
to harass small parties of troop- who are senl oul to look alter 
them. The scouting parties which go out seem to think thai 
proper way to deal with bushwhackers i- to capture them, but 
scarcely a partj goes ou1 without bringing hack one or more of 
their own number either dead or wounded. It is onlj two days 
ago I Baw a funeral from the camp of the New York hir-t Mount- 
ed Kitles of a man who had been killed up there. I tell the 



My Diary. 117 

Brooklyn boys that the best use a bushwhacker can be put to is 
to make a target of him, and be sure to hit the bull's eye when 
yon draw a bead on him ; never make a prisoner of one. The 
Brooklynites arc asking our boys a thousand questions, and the 
latter are telling them blood' and thunder stories till the former 
have come to think we are the veritable heroes of Waterloo. 

Our friends here seem to be anxious and troubled about the 
morrow, wondering what kind of a scrape they arc going to get 
into and whether they will conic out all right, and arc pi'obing to 
the bottom the dark side of the matter. I try to (dicer them u]> 
by telling them that from what experience I have had in this 
business I am not anticipating much of a storm. It has been too 
long underway and has been too well advertised ; we may have 
•a skirmish, nothing more. If the force around here is all that is 
going, we shall have to look out and not get into much of a skir- 
mish. 

The mystery winch has for so many days hung over us is at 
last cleared up, and Gen. Butler, after finding we were not to he 
driven nor frightened, has in his order assigning us temporarily 
for duty, acknowledged he was exceeding his authority in threat- 
ening us with permanent assignment and taking our warrants 
from us. If it had been some other general who didn't know 
any better I should think he was relenting of his shabby treat- 
ment of us, but Gen. Butler -knew better, and that makes his treat- 
ment of us all the more reprehensible. I presume we shall have 
to get ourselves and knapsacks hack to the News the same way 
we got here, although there arc boats running round twice and 
three times a week. 

THE EXPEDITION". 

Feb. 11. The morning of February 6th found us in line on 
the parade ground, New York and Massachusetts shoulder to 
shoulder. Capt. Phillips, wanting a brave and valiant veteran on 
the left of his company, assigned me to that post of honor. I 
reckon the reason for it was that two of his sergeants were on the 
sick list. While standing in line, waiting the order to march, a 
scene is transpiring which to us of the 25th is altogether new and 
Strange. The ladies living here in camp are all out, and wetting 
their handkerchiefs with their tears, are watching the preparations 
to leave. They are struggling under a fearful burden of anxiety 
which will not be removed until our return. Groups of men and 
women are standing around, taking each other by the hand and 
kissing their good-byes. Our Brooklyn friends are visibly af- 
fected, while the 25th boys look on stoically. While men and 
women with streaming eyes are bidding perhaps their last fare- 
wells, these roughened, hardened sons of Mars look with 
unpitying eye on this affecting seem' and laugh. I confess I 
should nave taken a greater interest in the thing ami my svmpa- 



118 My Diary. 

thice \\ < mi1<1 have flowed more freely it' I could have taken :i hand 
in t he kissing. 

We marched into town where the brigade line was formed, 
consisting of the 139th and 118th New York, two regiments of 
colored troops and one I . S. battery, (the 2d I think). The 
mounted rifles were to follow later. This compiled the whole 
force under command of Brig. Gen. Wistar, whoever he is. 
The line of march wastaken up the country on the road towards 
Richmond. Arriving :it the woods, aboul ;i mile from town, 
the column was halted and a detail made to ad as skirmishers. 
Th( 139th being on the advance furnished the detail. In this de- 
tail the 25th was largely represented, and was under coi and of 

Major Mulcay. The major marched his command .i few rods into 

the \\ Is, formed his skirmish line and milt red them forward, 

the column following. I now began to hear plenty of talk about 
bushwhackers and business for the boys ahead. Capt. Phillips 
fell back to the rear of his company, marching by my side. I 
thought this a good opportunity to scrape an acquaintance, and 

< tmenced talking to him, bul he did nol seem to be in a mood 

for conversation and said as little as possible. He commenced a 
low, suppressed whistle of a single strain of Rally 'Itound the 
Flag. I tried all means I could think of t<> draw him out, but 
finding I could do nothing with him. I turned my attention to the 
major and his skirmishers, lie was as busy with them and as 
particular as it' they were oul for skirmish drill, and kept talking 
to t hem all the time aboul preserving their distances and align- 
ment v. 

After a time, the boys started up a rabbit, ami halt' a dozen 
of them gave chase, shouting and yelling till they were out of 
Bight in the woods, where they waited tor the major to come up. 
The major lectured them a little aboul charging without orders 
and warning them oi the ureal danger they were in from bush- 
whackers. All the thanks be gol from those heartless fellows for 
all his care and solicitude was: "Oh! damn the bushwhackers!" 
and as soon as another rabbit or squirrel was -tailed up, away 
they would go again. ('apt. Phillip-, who meanwhile had kept 

up his whistle, suppressed il long enough to say : "Your boys are 
taking greal risk- in running off into the woods in that way; 
some of them will gel shot by bushwhackers." I said I thought 
"in- boys had very little oar of bushwhackers, and would sooner 
have tin inn of chasingthem than rabbits, besides I thought there 
was little danger from bushwhackers, for when ,-i force like this 
was marching through thej preferred keeping at a -ate dis- 
tance. 

A little after noon the cavalry overtook US, and we halted to 
let them go pa-l lis. I wa- surprised to see -iich a force; there 

was a whole brigade, numbering between 3000 ami 1000, under 
Command of Col. Spear, who had I. ecu sent down from the army 



My Diary. lift 

of the Potomac, landing at Yorkl >\vn, an<l had now overtaken 
ns. I could now begin to see through a gj iss darkly. This is the 
raid on Richmond, of winch I had heard sonic hints before. The 
cavalry of course arc the principal actors, and we are simply the 
supporting column. 

The cavalry ] : st r,s, we again started. r l 1 e gcn< ral hnrried 
us up, wishing to keep as near the cavalry as possible, fcnl the 
major's skirmish line rather retarded us. It was finally thought 
that with a large cavalry force in advance the skirmish line was 
not ahsolutely necessary, and it was withdrawn. The march was 
forced till past the middle of the afternoon, when it began to t< 11 
on the Brooklyn boys, some of them giving out. They wire un- 
accustomed to such severe marching, and it took hold of them 
severely. We made a halt of an hour for real and lunch, and be- 
fore starting, Col. Roberts made a short address. He thoughl 
we were on the eve of a severe battle, and lie hoped and believed 
his regiment would stand up and aquit themselves like soldiers, 
and if successful in our undertaking we should deserve s nd re- 
ceive the plaudits of the country. In such a battle, there must 
necessarily he some victims, hut just who, we are of course igno- 
rant, hut each one is hoping it will not lie him. I laughed, and 
one of the hoys asked what pleased me. I said if the colonel did 
not look out he would have us all whipped before we sighted the 
enemy. We pushed along till into the evening; the hoys were 
getting pretty well played out and would make frequent halts 
without any orders. 

There was one of the general's aids who seemed to take a 
great interest in getting us along, and his interest from some 
cause or other (probably his canteen) seemed to increase with the 
evening. The hoys would he groping their weary way through 
the darkness, when some one would give a whistle and they would 
all squat in the road. This aid would ride up in a great passion 
and order them up, telling them if they didn't get along faster he 
would put a regiment of colored troops on the advance. The 
response to that threat would he: "Bring on your niggers!" 
This officer had another provoking habit which he came well nigh 
paying dearly for. There were occasional mud holes in the road 
caused by the rains; some of them two or three rods across. The 
hoys would flank these to keep their feet from getting wet and 
sore, but this officer attempted to drive them through, saying it 
took up the time Hanking tin m. At one of these places he was 
going to drive them through anyway or it would he the death of 
some of them. I was quietly going around, and halted to see how 
he made it work with them. He was swearing at them, wheeling 
his horse right and left among them, and making himself about 
as disagreeable as he could. Just then I heard the ominous 
click of rifle locks, and heard some one ask him if he was aware 
those rifles were loaded. He seemed to catch onto the idea, and 



I -JO 



M\ DlAKY 



gol himself oul of that as quickly as possible, and was Been nor 
heard from*no more during the march. Soldiers are human, with 
feelings and passions like, other men; they can and '1" stand a 
greal deal, bul they cannol stand everything any more tlian a. 
stone '!i 

The nighl wore on, the boys w< re well nigh exhausted :m<l 
made frequenl halts. The colonel would sympathize with them, 
and encourage the- m 1\ saying he hoped the day's march was 
nearly over, telling them to 1<< <•]> up courage and :i few miles 
more the end would lie n a< In d. A1 i ne of th< se halts the major 
w< d s< me in | atii nee, i nd ridii g up to the colonel said: 

"Colonel, I really do nol understand the meaning of this?" 

"What's the matter now, major?" 

"Why, every few moments this entire regimenl will simul- 
taneously sil down ?" 

"Oh, well, major," the colonel replied, "the boys are tired; 
they have come a long way and are pretty well played out; 
change places with some of them, major, and you will under- 

■ : it better." 

Thai seemed to be satisfactory to the major ::n<l he rode 
off, 'mii it cheered the boys up wonderfully and they made quite 
a distance I" fore halting again. 

It is curious how sometimes the mosl trifling ad or expres- 
sion will raise up the almosl exhausted energies of men :m<l in- 
spire hope when almost* on the verge of despair. As an instance 
of this, the boys while marching along had for some time pre- 
served a dead silence; nol .-i word had been spoken, and all 
seemed to I e absorbed in their own reflections, when suddenly I 
stumbled over :i stump. Gathering myself up I exclaimed: 
"There, I know jusl where that stump is!" The effeel was like 

ic ; all within the sound of my voice broke out in a loud and 
hearty laugh, and for a time forgol their fatigue unci trudged 
lightl) along. 

We reached the end of our day's tramp :it New Kenl some- 
time after midnight, having made :i march of thirty miles. ."Many 
of the boys were so exhausted thai they threw themselves down on 
the ground and were soon fasl asleep. I prepared some coffee, 
and while it was boiling, washed myself up, and after drinking 
my coffee, rolled up in my blankel and was soon asleep. 

We slepl about three hours when we were routed up. ami a 
little after daylight wi°re again on the inarch. The boys were 
pretty stiff and sore, bul a mile or two t<><>k the kinks oul of 
their legs and limbered them up so th y were aboul as good as 
new. Nothing transpired worthy of note during the forenoon's 
march, unless il was thai Capt. Phillips kepi up his suppressed 
whistle of thai same strain of Rally 'Round the Flag. I tried to 
rally him and gel him to talking, bul it was of no use: he was en- 
tirely absorbed in his own reflections, ruminating, as I thought, 



My Diary. 121 

over the probable chances <>t' leaving a widow and orphan chil- 
dren as a legacy to his country. 

Before noon we reached what is (•ailed the Baltimore cross 
roads, about two miles from Bottom bridge which crosses the 
Chickahominy river. Here we met the cavalry coming hack, and 
Col. Spear reported to Gen. Wistar that on reaching the river he 
found all the bridges up and a considerable force of the enemy, 
with infantry and artillery guarding the river. With our small 
force and only one hattery he thoughl it would be useless to at- 
tempt to force the passage of the river. On learning this I felt 
relieved, for if we couldn't cross the river'to them, they certainly 
couldn't cross it to us, and in all probability they .had no desire 

to do so. 

Presently an alarm was raised that the enemy was coming up 
the White House road. The 139th was ordered down the road 
to meet them. We went about a quarter of a mile and formed a 
line of battle. A few cavalry went down the road a couple of 
miles and when they returned reported no enemy in sight or 
hearing, a circumstance I did not regret. We then went back 
and were dismissed for dinner. 

This Baltimore is the junction of several roads; the one we 
came up from New Kent extends on to Richmond, one runs south 
to Charles City, one northeast to White House, and another runs 
north over into Northumberland, where once lived a little hoy 
who owned a little hatchet and couldn't tell a lie. It was fortu- 
nate for him and the country that he lived at that time for if he 
had lived in these times the chances are more than a thousand to 
one that he couldn't have told the truth. There are some half a 
dozen farm houses scattered round in sight, and also the conven- 
ient blacksmith shop is located here. 

In the little square formed by the intersection of the roads 
stands an interesting old building — the church in which Gen. 
Washington was married. It is a long, low, rather narrow build- 
ing, without belfrey or ornament of any kind outside or in. It is 
without paint or even whitewash, and shows the rough marks of 
age and neglect. It is divested of its scats, having been used for 
an army hospital. I entered this historic old church and found it 
half full of the boys cutting their monograms in the ceiling; I 
uncovered my head in profound reverence for the place and the 
distinguished parties who were here joined in the holy bonds of 
wedlock. Here George and Martha mutually pledged themselves 
each to the other, to share together their joys and sorrows along 
the pathway of life until death should bring a separation, and 
well they kept their VOWS, for I have never learned that either of 
them ever applied for a divorce, although it is said Martha in 
prosperous gales was something of a shrew. For this little hit of 
history I am indebted to one of my Brooklyn friends who had 
made a previous visit here. 



122 Mv Diary, 

After waiting here a couple of hours the column re-formed 

and marched back over the n >:i«l we came nearly to the w Is, 

where we halted to let the cavalry go pasl us. After passing us 
thej halted to feed their horses and themselves, .- 1 1 1 < I while wait- 
in- for them an alarm was raised thai the enemy were coming 
through tin- woods on our flank. Down came the fences and a 
regimenl of darkies filed into the field, and deployed as skirmish- 
ers. Everj few moments they would look back to see where 
their support was, while their teeth and the whites of their eyes 
resembled bunches of tallow candles hanging in a dark cellar-way. 
The alarm of course was a false one,bu1 the colored troops fought 
nobly. 

We arrived back at New Kenl aboul night, and bivouacked 
on a large field near the' village. New Kent i> tin- enmity seat, 
and. is nol much unlike other country places they call town- in 
Virginia. It contains a court house, jail, church, two or three 
stores, tavern, a small collection of houses and the inevitable 

blacksmith shop. There is no such thing in Virginia as a scl 1- 

house; they have no use for such things. All they want is law 
and gospel, and I have nol been aide t<> find out thai these give 
them a greal degree of culture and refinement. More than 200 
years ago the colonial Gov. Berkley Baid: "I thank God there are 
no public schools in Virginia, and I hope there will be none for 
the next hundred years." His hopes have been doubly realized, 
which probably accounts for the presenl state of affairs in \ ir- 
ginia. 

Getting into camp we buill fires, made coffee and began to 
make ourselves comfortable. Some time in the evening the ma- 
jor happened along where a few of us were standing around :i 
fire of burning rails. lie began to upbraid us for burning the 

rails, telling us it' we wanted fires we must go into the w Is ami 

gel "in- fuel. I said to the major I thought it was .-ill righl to 
burn the rails; as we ware sort of guests on the gentleman's 
place, I presumed he would he entireh willing ami glad to con- 
tribute a lew rail- tor our personal comfort during the night. 
lie went nil' muttering something aboul destruction of property 
while the boys added more rails to the fire. 

Next morning the march was resumed, ('apt. Phillips came 
out looking brighl ami perl as a wildcat, the low whistle was no 
longer heard ami he was as lull of orders to his companj as a ma- 
jor-general. We arrived hack on the afternoon of the !'th. and as 
we sighted ('amp West, the Indies were all out on the parade 
ground, waving their handkerchiefs in -lectin-- of our return. It 
was like the old Roman armies returning fr< m conquest, when 
fair maidens, with white waving arms, would welcome their comb- 
ing. Now another scene ensued; fair women ami brave men 
(dose jn the fond embraces of love ami thanksgiving tor their 
miraculous deliverance. I could hut feel that the 25th bovs were 



My Diaky. 123 

rather slighted in not receiving a share of the kisses, for who can 
tell thai but for them their friends might not now be dwellers in 
the Hotel de Libby. On the whole we have had rather an in- 
teresting excursion, having seen some forty odd miles of the coun- 
ty. It was very woody and I think the poorest I have ever 
traveled in for chickens, applejack and peach and honey. But 
the chickens and applejack didn't matter so much as the orders in 
regard to foraging were very strict. These officers in command 
here seem to think the proper way to conduct a war is not to 
hurt anyone or damage their property. The result was not much 
different from what I expected, and reminds me of the old coup- 
let: 

The king of France with 50,000 men marched up the hill 
And then inarched down again. 

T reckon we must have gone very near where Pocahontas be- 
friended C'apt. Smith. The history of that little romance is that 
Smith was captured while ascending the Chickahominy river, and 
taken higher up the river to Powhatan's lodge, and that was said 
to be some twelve miles below where the city of Richmond now 
stands. So I reckon we must have been in the vicinity where 
that occurred; I should like to have stayed there two or three 
days, or at least long enough to have selected some romantic spot 
as being the place where that drama was enacted, and if possible 
gathered a few stones and erected some sort of rude monument 
to the memory of the young lady. 

Before dismissing his regiment, Col. Roberts thanked them 
for their cheerful obedience to orders, endurance and good order 
while on the march, and especially his new allies, who throughout 
the long march neither faltered, complained or straggled. 

ALONE again. 

Feb. 17. Our Brooklyn friends left us the 13th. They 
were ordered to report at Newport News, and we to remain here 
to do guard duty. When they left they expected to return in a 
few days, but I reckon they have gone for good, ::s they have 
sent for their ladies and quartermaster, who have gone, carrying 
everything with them. That leaves us alone again, and we are 
doing the guard duly up town, which is the outpost. It takes 
about pne third of pur men every day, and that brings us on 
every third day. All the camps about here are located near Fort 
Magruder, a large field fortification built by Gen. Magruder for 
the defence of Williamsburg. Since coming into Federal posses- 
sion, it lias been slightly altered and the guns, which formerly 
pointed outward, now point towards the town, about a mile dis- 
tant. This was an obstacle which McClellan had to overcome in 
his march on Richmond. About oil rods from its former front, 
now its rear, runs a wide and rather deep ravine across the conn- 



!_' I Mv Diary. 

n-\ from the York to the James river, a distance of about three 
miles. On this line Magruder built his forts, with rifle pits in 
front on the edge of the ravine, for skirmishers and infantry. ll<' 
had go1 only Fori Magruder armed <>n McClellan's arrival, bu1 it 
proved a formidable obstacle, as it commanded the road and a 
wide piece of country. In front of this fori was the hottesl of 
tin- battle, and nol until Gen. Hancock with his corps had crossed 
the r.i \ ine al Queen'6 creek on the York river side :in<l swooped 
down on Magruder's left, did he find it untenable. He then saw 
the day was losl and beal a hasty retreat. A few of us, while 
looking over the battle-ground a day or two ago, found the graves 
of Milford boys, who were in the 4<uli New York regiment. 

I reckon we musl have given them quite a scare up in Rich- 
mond the other day, for in the alarm and confusion which pre- 
vailed, quite :i number of prisoners escaped and are finding their 
•\\:i\ in here Yesterd ay the cavalry unit ou1 to assisl any that 
mighl he t rying to gel in. 

Feb. 19. We have again gol somebody to look after us. 
Two young lieutenants have been senl here from the 1 48th New 
York al Yorktown to take command. They have taken the 
colonel's quarters and seem to have settled down fur a good time 
1>\ themselves, al any rate they don't trouble us any. They 
come oul in the morning, and look on at guard mounting, and 
thai is about all we see of them. I reckon they are pretty good 
fellows, and when I gel time shall try and cultivate their ac- 
quaint ance. 

WILLIAMSBURG. 

Feb. 22. Washington's birthday. How well Virginians 
have emulated his example and teachings is this day apparent. 
<i-> I pity the Mother of Presidents. This classic old town, next 
to Jamestown, is the oldest in the state fc It is full of historical 
reminiscences and a greal field for the antiquarian. Until near 
the dose of the ITih century this was simply a suburb of James- 
town and was called tin- mid lie plantation. After the burning 
of Jamestown by Bacon and the accession of William III. to the 
throne, matters here began to assume a brighter aspect. Situated 
midway between the York and Jam is rivers, which arc here four 
miles apart, and enjoying (lie patronage of the king, the colonists 

ime ambitious and thoughl the town would extend each way 
to the rivers and become the London of the New World. 

For some time the founding of a college had Keen agitated 
and after the accession of William the charter was granted, he 
making large endowments of land and money in furtherance of 
the object. This vvas the second college in the British colonies, 
and in honor nt' the king and queen was named William and 
Mary. The -rent objeel of it was to educate in Virginia a 
succession of Church of England clergymen. After the erection 



My Diary. 125 

of the college the town was laid out and named Williamsburg in 
honor of the king. From this time, under the patronage of the 
king and gentlemen of rank and wealth who c^me over and took 
up sett lenient, the town went ahead. A church, State-house and 
other public buildings were erected. An immense residence was 
built lor the colonial governors and called the King James palace. 

The town was the capital of the state or colony, and here 
the burgesses were wont to meet. It grew in population and 
wealth, and up to the time of the breaking out of the revolution 
was the most aristocratic and loyal town in all the colonies. The 
first thing that disturbed this truly loyal people was the del ates 
in the house of burgesses on the stamp act, aboul the year 1 T < 5. 
Patrick Henry, then a young man and just elected to the house, 
oppofed the act and with all his j owers of reasoning and eloquence, 
advocated resistance to it. In these debates he gainer] the dis- 
pleasure of some of the older members and especially those 
resident here,. At this time Thomas Jefferson, a student in the 
college here, began to gel interested in public affairs; he often 
looked in on the house of burgesses and listened to the debates, 
and a dozen years afterwards, in his declaration of independence, 
shone out the principles lie there learned. Henry continued a 
member of the house of burgesses for several years, advocating 
the cause of the colonies, and in the Virginia convention to 
choose delegates to attend a congress of the oolonies to he holden 
at Philadelphia t<> draft a declaration, he advocated it with all 
his impassioned eloquence, closing with those memorable words: 
"I know not what others may think, hut as for me, give me liberty 
or give me death !" 

About the time that Governor Gage of Massachusetts > 
attempted to seize the stores at Concord, a similar proceeding 
took place here, under the direction of Lord Dunmore, the colo- 
nial governor. At midnight ('apt. Collins of the armed schooner 
Magdalen, with a company of marines, entered the town and 
carried off twenty barrels of powder from the public magazine. 
This so incensed the people in the adjoining counties that they 
rose in arms and demanded a return of the powder or they would 
march on the town. Dunmore, becoming frightened, moved his 
family aboard a ship at Jamestown, and some of the leading citi- 
zens quieted the people by promising them the powder should he. 
returned or paid for. But those promises were not kept, ami 
Patrick Henry, at the head of about 1500 militia moved on the 
town, declaring he would have the powder or would make a. 
reprisal from the public treasury. When within about fifteen 
miles from here he was met by a courier who paid for the powder, 
thus ending the expedition. 

A year or two afterwards Henry was chosen governor of the 
colony, and on his coming here brought with him quite a force of 
militia. On Henry's approach Gov. Dunmore went aboard a 



126 My Diabt. 

vessel and the fleel sailed down the river. Lord Dunmore was 
the lasl colonial governor and the last occupant of the palace. 
Henry so bated everything thai pertained to kings or royalty 
thai he positively refused to occup} the palace, and it was lefl to 
Lo decay and ruins. Nothing now remains of it Bave the 
foundations ami a few scattering bricks. 

WILLIAM AM' MARY COLLEGE 

Is now a mass of ruin--: a company <>t' the 11th Pennsylva- 
nia cavalry were tin' vandals. As this company were returning 
from a bcouI they were fired on with one or two phots from oul 
tlic college as they were riding past. Instead of surrounding the 
building and capturing the murderers, they set it on fire and 
burned it to the ground. This college was located al the extreme 
western end of the town, and was a fine brick building over 1"') 
feel in length and three stories high, with two tower entrances 
aboul 80 feel apart, in one of which was a fine bell. In front is 
:i large park, coming to a point, forming the main entrance some 
30 rods in fronl of the building. On each side of the -ate are 
large live oak trees. In this park are situated four large old 
English style houses, two on cadi side and facing each other. 
They are aboul 4o feel square, two stories high, with a four-cor- 
nered roof coming to a point at the top. These were the resi- 
dences of the officer^ and tutors of the college. 

The college stands facing down the main street, which is 
quite a mile long; straight as a line and very wide, giving a fine 
view from the college. This is the second or third time that 
this college has been burned, but this last time seems to have 
dieen \\ it lioiit cause or reason. 

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 

An antiquated structure of gothic architecture, its brown spire 
and slender turrets pointing to where man's heart should oftener 
turn, is situated near the center of the town. It is built of 
brick broughl over from England; they are very different in 
shape and color from those made in this country. There are no 
services held lure now. but that doesn'1 matter much a^ it needs 
something more than the grace of God to keep this people in the 
line of duty and loyalty t<> the gov< rntnent. Their great need 
just at present is gunpowder. The churchyard contains over an 
acre, and is a cemetery where countless generations sleep forgot, 
and where rests his head upon the lap of earth the youth to for- 
t line and to fame iinknow n. 

Till: OLD STATE HOUSE. 

Situated not far from the church, is a plain old bnck build- 
ing aboul 60 feet Ion-- and aboul 30 feet wide, built on a base- 



My Diary. 127 

ment story. The entrance is from ;i portico reached by a wide 
flight of steps. Here in these classic halls have been discussed 
grave questions of state — the destinies of the colonies, and as one 
walks through them, he can easily imagine he hears the voice of 
Patrick Henry saying: "The next gale that sweeps from the 
north will bring to your ears the clash of resounding arms." 

THE INSANE ASYLUM 

Is a large, massive, prison-looking building, filled with the unfor- 
tunate wards of the State of Virginia, but who are now the wards 
of the nation, and are being well and tenderly cared for. On 
pleasant days the mild and harmless patients have the liberty of 
the yard, which is spacious, well laid out and set with trees. At 
the entrance gates are small brick houses into which they can go 
when so disposed. At the gates they will stand and talk with 
the passers-by, asking a thousand questions and all manner of fa- 
vors. Some of them are intelligent and will converse for a few 
minutes in a rational manner, when they will switch off on their 
crazy talk and lingo. This is said to be the oldest insane institu- 
tion in the United States, having been founded previous to the 
revolutionary war, but the present building would seem to be of 
more recent construction. 

KING JAMES' PALACE. 

I have not been able to get much history of this, when or by 
whom it was built, and the only tradition I have been able to 
gather is that it was a magnificent and gorgeous establishment, 
where the colonial governors lived in great pomp and state. All 
there is left of it now is a small piece of brick work about four 
feet high on one of the south-west corners or angles. It was situ- 
ated on the north side of the town, and back some oil or 40 rods 
from the main street on which it fronted. It is difficult to form 
much of an idea of this building, as only the foundations are left, 
and a part of these are only dimly traced ; but it must have been 
a very extensive affair. It was all of 125 feet front and 50 feet 
dee]), with two wings in the rear extending back nearly 101) feet, 
leaving an open court or garden. The foundations on the front 
and {■)]([> show several angles, as though fashioned after some of 
the old English castles. The height of it can only be guessed, 
but probably it was not less than three stories. 

The grounds and gardens which surrounded it were exten- 
sive, and must have been tastefully laid out, if one can judge by 
tracing the old walls, and by the few remaining shrubs and 
bushes which survive. The grounds in front extended to the 
street, making a lawn or park of some two or three acres. This 
has been a good deal curtailed, Inning been built over on three 
sides, leaving a common or park on the street of about an acre, 



128 .My Diabt. 

called th< 1 Green. Wh\ such an establishment as this was 

buill in ilii> wilderness is only a matter of conjecture. It cer- 
tainly \v:is far beyond ih< needs of the colonial governors, nd 

probably buill with an eye to its being a -convenient rel 
for royalty in case of adverse fortunes al home. Why it should 
have been lefl to decay and ruin is more than we at this day can 
understand. After the loyalists had left on the breaking ou1 <'t' 
the war, there probably was in> one who cared enough about it t<> 
look after it. .-iikI the colonists so hated ev< ry thing thai p< rtained 
to royaltj thai it was lefl to the bats and <>\\ Is, and in time u> nt 
to ruin. Patrick Henry refused to occupy it while governor, :1ml 
his successors followed his example. Egad! bul whal good cheer 
:ii!il right royal times musl have 1 1 en had here in those good "1<1 
colon} timed, but the <>hl palace to ruins has gone, leaving no 
memories or associations clustering around it save that it was the 
king's palace. 

GTJA Kl> DUTY. 

Feb. 27. Our guard duty is jusl outside the town. There 
are three stations: one on the south side next the asylum, one :it 
the college on the wesl side, and one on the north side onjthe 
Palace Gre< n. This last station is the one 1 usually take charge 
of. Al each station the guard is divided into three reliefs, and 
the duty is simply to keep ;i lookout for the a] proach of the < ne- 
m\ and turn <>ut the guard in honor of the officer of the day and 
to Col. West, the posl commander. Our 'quarters at this station 
are in a small house which was formerly negroes 1 quarters. In 
the yard stands a large, unoccupied house owned by a Mr. Saun- 
ders, now a residenl of N<\\ N ork. He is said t<> be a loyal man 
and a lawyer b} profession. When McClellan passed through 
here, Mr. Saunders availed himself of the oj portunity, and taking 
his family, went to New Fork. When I h'rsl took command of 
this station several mornings ago, the instructions given me \ 
to keep a sharp lookoul for the approach of the enemy. I had 
qoI been engaged in this business a greal while, when the ap- 
proach of Col. Wesl was announced. I turned out the guard 
w i ' 1 1 a greal dash, c\t( tiding all the honors due his exalted rank. 
He inquired m\ instructions. I informed him of those 1 had re- 
ceived. He then inquired it I had 1101 received instructions in 
regard to this house in the yard. I said I ha<l not. "Then I 
will give you sonu : I shall expect you t" look alter this house 
and see 1 li: 1 no one goes in there or in any way disturbs anything 
around it, and shall hold you responsible for its safe keeping while 
you are <>n duty." 1 promised to faithfully attend to thai impor- 
tant duty, lie then dismissed the guard and rode over to call on 
a 1 : i • I \ friend of his. 



My Diary. 129 

a frightened darky. 

I now had a very importanl trust imposed on me, and T nat- 
orally felt a s< *rt of womanly curiosity to explore that sacred 
realm. Soon after daylight the next morning, 1 took three of the 
boys and went around to the back side of the lions;' and effected 
an entrance, bul it wms evident we were not the first explorers. 
We found nothing but a few articles of heavy furniture until we 
went into the southwest corner room next to the v< randa. Here 
was a rich find, a large library. This room was about 15 feet 
square, and on all sides were hooks from the floor to the ceiling. 
Here was history, biography, travels, fiction, religion, law and 
miscellaneous works, magazines of all kiuds, public documents, 
reports on all manner of subjects, and a targe quantity of letters 
and private papers. 

We tarried here over an hour, and on coming out nut a. 
darky on the veranda, lie put on one' of his ugliest looks and 
said: 

"Wot doin' in dar? Mus keep out dar!" 

"What's that to you, you black cuss?" 

"■You fine out, you go in dar. Colonel West tole me look 
out for dis yer property an 1 tole him wot 1 sees goin' on roun 
yere." 

"And do you tell Colonel West what you sue done here?" 

"O, yas sab, yas sah, Ize tole him ebery ting [ze sees. 

"Look here, boy, do you want to live to he old ?" 

"O, yas sah, yas sah/'' 

"Well then, if you are cherishing any such desire, you must 
be a little careful what you say to West, for if he ever comes to 
us with any stories from you, we will take yon out here into the 
woods and leave you for the buzzards to eat/ 1 

"< ), lorra golly mity, hoss, [ze neber see nosin' bout desogers, 
it's on'y dese \wv citizens roun yere Ise looks arter, fore de Lord, 
boss, Ise done sa nosin bout de sogers." 

"That's right, hoy; you stick to that and keep it right on 
vour mind when you see West, unless you want buzzards to your 
funeral." 

That darky came down from boiling heat to zero in a short 
space of time, and as we have heard nothing from him he proba- 
bly keeps the buzzards on his mind. 

SALUTING THE POST COMMANDER. 

A few mornings ago it was warm, sunshiny and spring-like. 
It was my turn on guard, and I was in command of the whole 
party marching through town. On the way I saw Col. West 
coming, and gave the order: "Shoulder arms; close up!" Just 
then we were passing a house on the right side of the street. On 
the veranda were several ladies taking their morning airing. I 
9 



L30 Mi Diary. 

the order: "Eyes nghl !" Wesl heard the order, and caught 
the idea; laughing, he touched his cap as he rode pasl us. 

I reckon he was pleased with my style of soldiering a- he 
called >>ii mi' .ii the station a few hours afterwards. I turned out 
the guard and extended the customary honors. After Looking us 
u\ er lif said : 

l4 lS( i ■ ni. suppose von should see :i force of the enemy file 
out ni' tli.' woods over yonder, whal would you do?" 

••Will, sir, that would depend altogether on the size of the 
force." 

"Well, say one or \\v<> regiments "t' infantry." 

•■In tii.it case I should deploy my men among the buildings 
here, and skirmish with them until reinforcements arrived." • 

"Very well. Suppose a brigade of cavalry should dash out, 
what then?" 

"In that case we would empty our rifles on them nine or 
twice, and cul and run like hell for Fort Magruder." 

"You'll 'h>. dismiss your guard ;" and wheeling his horse he 
rode off laughing. 

SE( l.sn i. \iuk->. 

Feb. 29. .Must of the residents in town are women and 
small children, and a few old men. Of course the colored people 
arc with us always. All the men being away makes society for 
the ladies a little one-sided. At the evacuation mosl <•!' the 
women remained here t<> take ran- of their property, ami there 
arc very few empty houses. These la. lies pretend to have agreat 
contempt for Yankees, hut still they don'l appear to have quite 
enough to prevent their talking or chatting with us. On sunny 
days they may be seen at the windows or mi the verandas, ami a 
passing soldier who touches hi- cap in a respectful manner will 
perhapsgel an invitation to call. It' he conducts himself with 
propriety ami i- agreeable, they will ask him to he seated or per- 
haps ask him into the house, and mi leaving, if he happens t>» 
Suit them, they will invite him t<> call again, hut some nf them 
are imt always so agreeable that a second call is desirable. These 
ladies pride themselves on being the regular I - '. F. \ 's, and have 
a greal pride of birth ami ancestrj : they will >it by the hourand 
talk ami boasl of it. They claim ti» he the real thoroughbreds 
and can trace their lineage in a dired line right straight back to 
William ami Marv . 

One day, while a party of them were talking that kind of 
nonsense anil making right smart of fun of the mixed ^ ankee 
race, 1 said: "So far as anything thai I know to the contrary thai 
may all lie as you say, hut if appearances go for anything one 
would naturally conclude that some of the colored people about 
here mighl boasl thatsomeof William's and Mary's blood coursed 
through their veins." That seemed t<> bring a sort of coldness 



My Diary. 131 

over the meetin', and I began to suspect that I had seriously of- 
fended, but they soon rallied and the conversation drifted into 
other and more agreeable channels. 

Some of the ladies are very agreeable conversationalists when 
they converse on something besides .politics and secession, but 
what they say does not disturb me. I rather enjoy it, and have 
the fun of laughing at them. One day, in company with a party 
of them, they were having right smart of fun, laughing and mak- 
ing sport of the Yankees. I kept my end up as well as I could 
against such odds until they tired of it, when they switched off 
into secession and the war. On a table lay a small Confederate 
flag which one of them took up, and flaunting it around asked me 
how I liked the looks of it, remarking that it would finally tri- 
umph. I said that was no novelty tome, I had had the honor of 
helping capture quite a number of those things, "That does not 
represent anything, ladies ; if you take any pleasure in keeping 
that little flag to look at occasionally as a curiosity, I presume 
there is no one who has the slightest objection, hut he sure of one 
thing, you will never again see it floating in the breeze in this 
town."' 

One replied: "You seem to feel pretty secure in your hold- 
ing here, but it would not take a large force of our troops to set 
you Yankees scampering towards Fortress Monroe. 1 ' 

"I know, but whatever force it might take, your people don't 
care to pay the cost of retaking it. Your people have too many 
other jobs on hand at present, ami a good prospect of having 
more to take much trouble about this place, besides it is of no use 
to them anyway and but very little use to us." 

Some of the women here seem to think it a mark of loyalty 
to their cause to exhibit all the contempt they can towards the 
Yankees. J fell in with a party of that kind one afternoon outin 
the churchyard. I sometimes go in there and spend an hour 
looking around and scraping the moss off those ancient stones to 
find names and dates, and I have found some that date back into 
the 17th century. In this yard are some 20 or 30 mounds beneath 
which sleep the Confederate dead, killed in the battle here or 
brought from other fields; at any rate they are here and the 
mounds are kept covered with flowers and evergreens. One day 
while looking around there a party of women entered, bringing 
wreaths of evergreen and commenced decorating those graves. I 
approached to within a respectful distance and watched them per- 
form their sad rites of love and affection. When they had fin- 
ished one of them, pointing at me, addressed me in this beautiful 
language: "But for you, you vile, miserable Yankees, these brave 
men would now be adorning their homes.' 1 

Not knowing exactly whether they would or not, or just how 
much of an adornment they would have been, I deemed the most 
fitting reply to that crazed woman was dignified silence. 



132 .My Diary 



CHAPTER VII. 

• RETURN TO SEWPOR1 M \VS. 

March 2. The lltli Connecticul regimenl arrived here to- 
day, and we arc ordered back to the News when- we rejoin a pari 
of our old regimenl which lias jusl returned from home. This is 
goo I news to our boys who have I •ecu impatiently awaiting their 
return. So Ear as I am concerned I shall leave here with some 
r< grets. We have been here several weeks and have gol used to 
the officers and the place The duty is lighl and Bomebodj has 
gol i" staj here; as we have only a fgw months longer to remain 
we mighl as well be here as anywhere; bul the orders arc i. 
and orders rausl be obeyed. I will call on our officei"s and learn 
more aboul it. I am well pleased with these young fellows. 
They seem to know their business and have a remarkable faculty 
of attending t<> it and letting other people attend to theirs. Their 
business appears to be in their quarters, amusing themselves with 
their reading, writing and games. They are nol at all afflicted 
with exclusiveness and arc nol disposed to recline on their digni- 
ty. The boys have a standing invitation to call on them any time 
during office hours, and almost every evening some of them are 
in there. I called on them and inquired if they were going 
through to the News with us or stop with their regimenl at 
Yorktown. They said it was nol supposed thai we knew enough 
to go from here to Newporl News alone, ami their orders were to 
march us down there, bul they should try to gel transportation 
from Yorktciu ii. [said I thought that would be the most difficult 
job they had undertaken recently, thai we could gel transporta- 
tion from here jusl as well as from 5Torktown. Bul the idea was 
for us to march, as marching 50 or inn miles a week, carrying 
heavy knapsacks, was a line thing for soldiers. It took the kinks 
out of their legs and prevented them from becoming round- 
shouldered. I inquired if they thoughl of making the journey 
mi brook water? One of them partly closed his left eye and 
replied, "Nol muchly." I then said J should like an order on the 
commissary for a few much-needed supplies. The order was 
forthcoming, for which I made my besl how, and bidding them 
good c\ ening took mj h-a\ e. 

\ i:i:i \ [ON. 

M \ i : i ii 7 . Left Camp West on the 3d, arriving al Forktown 
in the afternoon. Here our officers tried to gel transportation 
bul were ordered to move on. Went on aboul six miles below 

Yorktown, ami on coming to an old church in the woods halted 

for the night. This was a briok building with nothing bul the 



My Diary. 133 

bare walls and roof, the floors, windows :in<l finish having been 
removed. We gathered what wood we could find and kindled a 
fire inside; the night was cold and wood scarce, so that we passed 
a very uncomfortable night, not sleeping a wink. We took an 
early start in the morning, reaching the News about the middle 
of the afternoon, where we rejoined about -Oil of the boys who 
first went home. We were glad to once more see each other, 
and the greetings were cordial among both officers and men. We 
introduced our new officers to our old ones, and when our new 
officers were about leaving us, as a slight expression of our re- 
gard for them, we shook hands with them and gave them three 
rousing cheers. 

SNOW STORM. 

March 23. A snow storm commenced yesterday and con- 
tinued through last night with great severity, and as our cam]) is 
only a temporary affair it afforded hut slight protection; when I 
awoke this morning I found myself under a blanket of snow 
about a foot thick; there was quite a depth of snow and it was 
badly drifted. Before noon it cleared up and the sun shone out 
warm. Now commenced snow-ball battles, in which all hands 
engaged and seemed to take great delight. This afternoon a 
.sleighing party drove into camp and made the rounds of the 
officers' quarters. This was a battery company, which out of 
some timbers and boards had improvised a sled about 30 feet long, 
and had hitched on their whole team of horses some so in num- 
ber. The battery buys were riding the horses, while the sled 
was covered with officers, both military and naval. Making the 
rounds of the camps and being entertained at the officers' quar- 
ters, they had a high old time. It didn't matter much about the 
sleighing, whether good or bad, as they had team and whiskey 
enough to make good sleighing anywhere. 

THE FAMILY TOGETHER AGAIN. 

March 26. Broke camp and went over to Portsmouth, 
opposite Norfolk. Regiment arrived in the afternoon, bringing 
some 250 recruits. We are once more together and the regiment 
now numbers about 900 men. Towards night we were ordered 
out to Getty's Station, about four miles west of Portsmouth. 

getty's station. 

April :i. This is a station on the Seaboard and Roanoke 
railroad; the camp ground lies between the station and the 
Nanseinond river. The camp is named Camp Wellington in 
honor of a gentleman of that name in the city of Worcester, 
.Mass., but 1 reckon if he could see this camp he would not feel 

very highly honored. It is the worst ground we have eve* 
camped on, being little else than a mud hole. 1 have slept out in 



i:;i Mi Diary. 

the woods ever since we came here, bul we are getting il drained 
and the tents stockaded, bul by the time we get it habitable we 
shall have to Leave it. 

GUERRILLA III \TI\'.. 

April 18. The country above here and that curt of it ly- 
ing between the Suffolk and James rivers is a good deal infected 
with guerrilla bands. It was thoughl best to send oul in differ- 
ent directions three or four regiments to Btir them up. In ac- 
cordance with that arrangement we lefl our mud hole early in 
the morning of the 13th going aboard a big double-ender steam- 
er al Portsmouth, [n company with a small gun boal we steamed 
up the James river some 20 miles, when turning to the lefl we 
entered a small creek; following this a few miles we came to a 
village called Smithfield. 

We landed here about noon and marched op into the street. 
The village seemed to be deserted, scarcely any one in sight. 
We had no1 been here many minutes before Col. Pickett was 
met by a good-looking elderly gentleman, who seemed t" be con- 
siderably agitated aooul something. He wished the colonel to 
send a guard to his house, as he feared the negroes would take 
too manj liberties with him during our stay. The colonel in- 
quired if there were many Confederates aboul here. 'The old 
gentleman replied thai he had seen none recently, and jusl then 
the reporl of rifles wns heard up the creek. At this the- colonel 
in a very abrupl and ungentlemanly manner, said: "D — n you 
and your house! Forward, march !" The old gentleman turned 
away sorrowfully, and started for home. This man's name was 
Atkinson and he was formerly a member of Congress. 

A little farther \\\> tin- street we made another halt to li\ on 
some plan of action. While waiting here] went into a house. 
There was no "ne at home, but from >onie books ami papers lying 
around, I learned thai its occupanl was a namesake of mine, a 
.Mi-. Day, a lawyer by profession. I was disappointed in not find- 
ing the 'squire al home. .Mrs. Day had just finished ironing and 
her elothes lay on a table nice and clean. I noticed among them 
some towels, and being short of these, I borrowed a pair. I left 
my card expressing regrets al the 'squire's abseuce ami --aid if he 
would semi me his address. I should like to correspond with him. 

Ju8l out the village the roads forked. We halted a minute 
to determine which one to take, and while waiting a darky came 
along driving a pair of hulls hitched to a cart. Not being accus- 
tomed to seeing so grand a display, the animals became frightened 
ami balked. The darky standing in the cart applied the whip 
and yelled at them. They began to bellow, and sticking their 
tails straighl up in the air, went bellowing down the road at a 
gail which would have shamed a locomotive. We wenl out on 
the Suffolk road about five mile-, where we met some scouts who 



My Diary. 135 

said there was a regiment ahead of us. We then returned to 
Smithfield and soon after we were joined by the 9th New Jersey, 
who informed us that the 23d Massachusetts had had a brush 
with a party of guerrillas and had driven them towards Suffolk; 
those were the troops who were ahead of us when we met the 
scouts. The next morning on going down to the boats we saw a 
flag spread over something on the deck of the gunboat, and 
learned that it covered the body of a lieutenant of marines who 
was shot while going in a boat up the creek; those were the 
shots we heard. We arrived back to Camp Wellington in the 
afternoon. 

A TRIP THROUGH THE CHESAPEAKE AND ALBEMARLE CANAL. 

APRIL '20. The surrender of Plymouth, X. C, and death of 
Flusser caused consternation at Roanoke island, lest the dreaded 
Albemarle should make them a visit. On the 22d we were or- 
dered t<> tin- succor of that island. Embarking on board a large 
double-ender boat, we left Portsmouth in the afternoon and pro- 
ceeded up the river, going past the Gosport navy yard, where 
could he seen the burned and sunken hulks of the V. S. vessels 
which were destroyed at the surrender of Norfolk and the navy 
yard at the beginning of the war. We kept on up the river till 
towards night, when we entered the canal. The boat was a little 
too wide for the canal and our progress was slow. 

About midnight we came to a station, having made but a 
few miles of our journey. There we found our Brooklyn friends 
who were doit '".' picket duty. They were right glad to see us and 
kept us busy ■■.nswering questions about their old home, which 
they were beginning to despair of ever se< ing again. After an 
hour's stop we resumed our journey. We had not gone far when 
the port wheel fouled with a stump, so that we could neither go 
ahead nor hack off. This caused a delay of about two hours, as 
cutting out floats by the light of a lantern is a slow job. A mile 
or so further on a similar accident happened. This time they 
went to work cutting out the stump which was of considerable 
si/.e, and took with a large amount of swearing, until after day- 
light t<> gel clear. The port wheel had now acquired a provoking 
habit of fouling with all the stumps and snags along the bank, 
and not until late in the afternoon of the 23d did we come out to 
a lake, sound, hay. or at any rate a large sheet of water, which we 
crossed, and just before night again entered"the canal. 

We now inter the eastern edge of the ureal dismal swamp. 
I have sometime read a legend of the phantom or witch of the 
lake of the dismal swamp, who all night long, by the light of the 
firefly lain]), would paddle her light canoe. On each side of the 
canal is a cypress swamp, and as the officers were aboul retiring 
for the nighl in the house on deck, the colonel charged the hoys 
to keep a sharp lookout for guerrillas and bushwhackers who 



136 M . Di \i:v. 

mighl be lurking there. Aboul midnighl all was still, no1 a 
Bound was heard save the dull, heavy wheezing oi the engines. 
Stripped of their bark, the dead trunks of the cypress trees 
looked in the dim light of the swe< t German silver-plated moon, 
weird and ghostlike. \"\\ it required ii" greal stretch of the im- 
agination i" see almosl anything in this swamp, and it began to 
be whispered around thai bushwhackers could be seen behind the 
trees. Presently the sharp crack of a rifle rang oul on the Mill 
night air, followed bj a general fusillade and aery thai che woods 
are full of them. The officers came rushing ou1 of the house and 
the colonel strained his eyes peering into the swamp, bul seeing 
nothing and hearing no return fire, he naturally concluded that 
the boys were drawing on their imaginations, and gave the order 
to cease firing. Bui in such a rackel it was difficull )«> hear or- 
ders, especially if they didn'l care to, and before he got them 
8top)»ed, he was giving his orders in very emphatic language. It 
was rare sporl to see the firing go on and to hear the colonel try- 
ing to stop it . 

Aboul morning we entered the North river, coming out into 
Currituck sound and sailing around the head of the island, landed 
al old Port Huger. The garrison consisted of only the 99th New 
York, "who fell a little nervous aboul being caughl here alone in 
case the Albemarle should make them a visit. On landing we 
learned the scare was .-ill over. The ram left Plymouth, intend- 
ing to come here, bul on getting ou1 into the sound the old ferry- 
boats which had been lying in wail went for her and came well 
nigh sinking her; al any rate they disabled her so much >lic put 
back to Plymouth. Finding we were nol needed here, after :i 
few hours' resl we re-embarked and started back. 

The nexl day as we came oul into the wi<le sheel of water, a 
cry was raised: "Sailho! Sail ho!" "Where away?" "Five 
points off the porl bow." And sure enough, a little to the left 
and nearly across this lake, sound or whatever it is, lay :i sm.-ill 
uner, which > roved to be the little mail-boal Gazelle, which 
lay there stranded. We hauled up and inquired if they wished 
any assistance. They replied they should be .-ill righl as soon as 
the sand washed from under them, bul in the meantime would 
like ;: guard aboard. Aboul a dozen men from Company A were 
jMit aboard and we wenl on, arriving back to camp late lasl even- 
ing. 

YORK low N. 

M \ v 3, On the 27th of April we broke camp al Getty's sta- 
tion, arriving here aboul dark, and marched up the Williamsburg 
road aboul two miles where we bivouacked. On this trip we 
were furnished transportation. On the morning of the 29th we 
were ordered into camp aboul three miles higher up the road. 
We had nol much more than gol up there when an order came 



My Dim; v. 137 

for us to report at the landing immediately. We now had a five 
mile march before us, with the dust in the road about three 
inches deep. This was no march hut a race, the companies try- 
ing to run past each other and get the advance to shield them- 
selves from the dust. The colonel let them have it their own 
way and they made the dust fly right smart. We made the dis- 
tance in less than an hour and on arriving at the landing looked 
like walking dirt heaps. A guard was placed along the bank of 
the river to prevent our washing in it for fear of creating a sand 
bar. There didn't appear to he anything wanted of us after we 
got here and we are now in camp on the bluff just above the 
landing. 

Our brigade now consists of the 9th New Jersey and the 23d, 
25th and :27th Massachusetts, under command of Brig. Gen.C. A. 
Heckman, and is known as the 1st brigade, 2d division, 18th army 
corps, under command of Gen. William F. Smith, otherwise 
known as "Baldy." Our knapsacks-have been sent, back t<> Ports- 
mouth and we art- now in light marching order, having only the 
clothing we have on and our blankets. Our camp equipage con- 
sists of two camp kettles for each company, and shelter tents. 
These tents are simply pieces of cotton cloth, about six feet long 
by foui- wide, made to button together, and every man is supplied 
with one which he carries with his blanket. Ordinarily they are 
used as blankets, but in case of a storm three of them are but- 
toned together, two forming the roof and the other the end, 
"which makes a kind of burrow which partly shelters three men. 
We fellows who are used to roughing it think it all well enough, 
but I feel sorry for the officers ; it will come pretty hard on them. 
It is something they are not used to and besides it sort of re- 
duces them to the ranks. 

Yorktown is hardly as much today as it was the day of Corn- 
wallis' surrender, and I don't think there has been a nail driven or 
an ounce of (taint used since. There is the old church and about, 
a dozen weather-beaten old houses, the most pretentious of which 
was Cornwallis' headquarters. 

The 1 S 1 1 1 corps are all here, infantry, artillery and cavalry, 
and yesterday (Jen. Butler reviewed them. The review came off 
on the plain below the town and was quite an imposing affair. 
We came a very clever little dodge on the enemy last night. 
About midnight we were all routed up and every man given a 
chunk of raw salt pork. After standing there aboul half an hour 
holding our pork and awaiting further developments, we were then 
told we mighl go back to bed again. Now that was taking a 
mean advantage of a brave and chivalrous foe, thus to conceal 
the kind and quantity of our rations. They are probably think- 
ing that we have nothing to cat and are keeping up their hopes 
that we shall soon surrender. 



188 



M\ Diary. 



WE LEAVE VORKTOWN. 

M li v . On the afternoon <>t' the -Itli we wenl aboard the 
boats and dropped anchor a1 Fortress Monroe at « i u--k. Thenext 
morning we started up the James river. The riverwas alive with 
boats, schooners, tugs, gunboats, monitors and everything that 
could float, all loaded to their fullesl capacity with troops, horses, 
artillery and .-ill the paraphernalia of war. We passed Jamestown 
in the afternoon. Nothing no^ remains to mark the spol where 
the firsl settlemenl in Virginia was made, bul a pile of bricks 
which composed a pari of one of the buildings. We reached 
(ii\ I'l'int just before night. Gen. Heckman's brigade landed on 
the Bermuda Hundred side and bivouacked a shorl distance from 
the landing, all the other troops remaining aboard the boats. The 
gunboats and monitors commenced fishing for torpedoes and 
working their way up the James and Appomatox rivers. 

The nexl morning, the 6th, the troops commenced to land 
and Heckman's brigade was ordered to advance. We marched 
up the country six or seven miles, getting on to high ground and 
whal is called Cobb's Hill. From here the spires of thechurches 
in Petersburg can be seen, while in front of ire is a kind of 
valley. Al this point the Appomatax river turns in a southwest- 
erly direction. On t he hanks between us and Petersburg was a 

battery. This i> called a g I position and here we halted. 

We sal here under a burning sun, watching the long lines of 
troops come up and file off to the righl into the woods towards 
the James river until nasi the middle of the afternoon, at which 
time the whole of the 18th and 10th corps, comprising the army 
oi the James, under Gen. B. F. Butler, had arrived. 

heckman's brigade leads off the dance. 



Aboul I p. in.. Gen. Heckman is ordered to make a recon- 
noisance towards the Petersburg and Richmond railroad. We 
moved down the valley in a southwesterly direction, and when 
about three miles out the 27th Massachusetts were advanced as 
skirmishers. A mile or two farther on we began to hear scatter- 
ing shots, indicating that our skirmishers had found game. We 
hurried on and found the enemy in a shallow eut, mi a branch 
railroad running from Port Walthal to the Petersburg and Rich- 
mond road. A sharp skirmish ensued, lasting till near dark, when 
Heckman withdrew, having accomplished his purpose of finding 
the enemy. In this skirmish the 25th losl tour killed and several 
w ounded. 

The nexl morning, the 7th. we moved on them in force, Gen. 
Brooks' division moving directly on the Petersburg and Rich- 
mond railroad. Heckman's brigade, with a section of a battery, 
were ordered to occupy the ground of the nighl before. The 



My Diary. 139 

enemy were in strong force and opened on us with artillery.. 
Heckjrnan paidno attention to that, but moved his battalions into- 
line on the Held in columns by division, and ordered them to lie 
down. The 25th were partially covered by a slight roll of ground 
in our front, while the :27th Massachusetts on our left were badly 
exposed to the enemy's lire and were suffering severely. Heck- 
man saw the situation and ordered Col. Lee to move his regiment 
to the rear of us. He then ordered forward his artillery, placing 
them in battery in our front and set them to work. They made 
the rail fences and dust fly right smart. After a few shots had 
been tired a loud explosion was heard, followed by a big cloud of 
smoke, dust and debris in the enemy's line. One of their cais- 
sons had blown up, and our boys rose up and gave rousing cheers 
Our u'tins continued shelling them, but got no return tire, their 
ammunition was probably exhausted and their guns perhaps dis- 
abled. 

There was no infantry firing on either side, we simply hold- 
ing our line and watching events. Heavy firing was heard over' 
on the railroad. Brooks was at them and a fight for the railroad 
was going on. We Wi'vr masters of the situation here and were- 
able to protect his flank. About noon the enemy got an old gun 
into position and commenced throwing chunks of railroad iron at 
us. This caused considerable spoil among the hoys and they 
would cheer them lustily every time they tired, but a few shots 
from our guns, put a quietus <>n that sport. I have often read 
and heard of that kind of practice, hut never saw any of it until 
now. 

In the afternoon a battery of four 20-pounder parrott guns 
drove up, taking positions on a roll of ground some 20 rods in 
our rear and commenced firing. 1 at first thought they were 
shelling the enemy in front of us, and was a little surprised at it 
as all was quiet on both sides. But I soon noticed they were not. 
1 got permission from ('apt. Emery and went up there. Here 
was a signal officer, and nearly half a mile away to the northwest 
was a group of men signaling to this battery. The guns were at 
quite an elevation, ami they would train them a little to the right 
or left, as directed by the signal, officer. They were throwing 
sheds over the woods and dropping them among the enemy ovei 
on the railroad, some two miles away. Those shells were report- 
ed to be very annoying to the enemy and of great service to 
Brooks. It was splendid artillery practice and I was greatly in- 
terested in it. While watching them shy those shells over the 
woods I wondered where those devils over there thought thej 
came from. 

Towards night it was signaled that Brooks had accomplished 
his purpose, tearing up several miles of road and was drawing; 
hack to our line. The day's work was over and we drew hack t< 
Cobb's Hill. In this day's fight the 27th Massachusetts sustained 



1 1ll 



My Diary. 



greatest loss, while the 25th suffered the wors\ in lasl night's 
affair. The heal was intense, and the men suffered severely, 
many ■>! them being prostrated and carried back in ambulances. 



I >\ THE -I' K I.I- I 



M \ ■> I s . Since the affair over on the railroad, 1 have been 

'M the sick lisl and have suffered severely with chills and fever 

and from other causes. I am uol yet al>l<- 1<» do much and I fear I 

shall nol be able to go on many more excursions with the boys. 

'I he regimenl has been < >u t nearly every day, and has suffered a 

loss oi re than 200 men, killed, wounded and prisoners. In 

the fighl .-it Drury's Bluff, two mornings ago, we losl heavily, 
some 150 men being killed, wounded or taken prisoners. Heck- 
man's brigade was aim osl annihilated. He was taken prisoner 
together with Capt. Belger, who lost four pieces of liis battery, 
and Col. Lee, with nearly the whole of the 27th Massachusetts 
regiment, besides a good ninny officers and men of the 23d Mas- 
sachusetts and 9th New Jersev. 



18th Corps Hospital, Point of Rocks, Sunday, Juli 10, 
1864. I have been here :i little more than a week and begin to 
feel a little rested. I have nol written a letter for more than a 
month and aboul everything has been neglected. I hung around 
the regimenl ;is long as Ass'l Surgeon Hoyl would allow me to. 
:nnl the firsl of the month he piled me into an ambulance and 
-■Hi me here, saying I could have a much better celebration here 
than I could in the trenches. This was my firsl ride in an ambu- 
lance and I didn't enjoy it worth a cent. I have always had a 
strong aversion to thai kind of conveyance and have always clung 
i" the hope thai I mighl be spared from it. My health began t<> 
fail early in the spring. I said nothing aboul it, thinking I 
should improve as the weather grew warmer, bu1 instead of im- 
proving I grew worse, until now I am unlit for anything. At 
firsl I was terribly afflicted with piles, then chills and fever, and 
now I have a confirmed liver complainl which no amounl <»t' blue 
mass, calomel or acids affeel in the leasl unless il is to help it 
along. I reckon if I can keep pretty quiel and can hold '>ut till 
I ge\ home I shall stand ;i chance to recover from it, bul it will be 
ow job. 

HOSPITAL LIFE. 

.h \\ 20. Thus far I have been unable to discover any 
charms in hospital life. With fair health the active camp is far 

preferable. This hospital is divided into three departments. 

The firsl is the officers ward, the second is the hospital for the 
wounded and \ <t\ sick, and the third is the convalescent camp. The 

firsl two are in large hospital tents and are furnished with cots, 



Mt Diaky. 141 

mattresses and other necessary conveniences. In the third are 
more than 600 men, quartered under shelter tents. I am in this 
department. It is not supposed that there are any sick men here. 
They are all either dead heats or afflicted with laziness, and a 
draft is made from among them twice a week for the front. I 
had been here only tour days when 1 was drawn, but Garland of 
Company C, who is an attache at Doctor Sadler's office, saw inv 
name on the roll and scratched i( off. Although there are none 
here supposed to he sick, there seems to he a singular fatality 
among them as we furnish about as large a quota every day for 
the little cemetery out here as they do from the sick hospital. 
But then in a population of 600 or more, three or four deaths a 
day is not surprising. 1 have been here three weeks and have 
been drafted four times, hut with my friend Garland's help I have 
escaped. 1 should he pleased to he hack with the hoys if I was 
only half well, hut I reckon 1 shall not he troubled with any 
more drafts. Doctor Uoyt sent a man hack the other day. The 
next morning he was sent up with a sharp note to Doctor Sadler. 
saying that he didn't send men to the hospital that were fit for 
duty and didn't want them sent hack until they were. That 
roused Doctor Sadler's ire, and he says when Hoyt wants his 
men he can send for them. • 

Doctor Sadler has the whole charge of the convalescent 
camp, and has several young fellows, assistant surgeons so called, 
on his staff. Some of these fellows I should think had been 
nothing more than druggists' clerks at home, but by some hook or 
crook have been commissioned assistant surgeons and sent out 
here. Every morning all who are able in all the ten wards go up 
to he examined and prescribed for by these new fledged doctors, 
and those not able to go seldom receive any medical attendance* 
but it is just as well and perhaps better that they do not go, as 
the skill of these young doctors is exceedingly limited. Doctor 
Sadler is a fine man and a skilful surgeon. He comes around oc- 
casionally, visiting those who are not able to go out and prescribes 
for them, and for a day or two afterwards the assistants will at- 
tend to those cases. These assistants make the examinations and 
draft the men for the front, after which they are again examined 
by Doctor Sadler and frequently a number of them will not be 
accepted, and the assistants oftentimes need not feel very much 
flattered by some remarks of the doctor. 

This convalescent camp holds its own in spite of all the 
drafts made on it. Recruits arrive daily and the drafts are made 
twice a week, sending hack 50 or 111!) at each draft. When a 
draft is made one of the assistants conies into a ward and orders 
it turned out, and every man not down sick abed turns out. The 
ward-master forms them in single rank and the inspection begins- 
They commence on the right and go through the ward, making 



i 12 Mv Diary. 

the same examinations and asking the same questions of every 
man in the wan!. They feel the pulse and look al the tongue, 
and if those are righl they are booked for the front. The) re- 
mind me of horse jockeys al Brighton, examining horses. Some 
of the boys who are well enough bul are in do hurry to go back, 
chew wild cherry or oak bark to fur their tongues and are thus 
exempted until Doctor Sadler gets hold of them, when they have 
to go. We gel Borne recruits from the other hospital, for as *""ii 
sick or wounded man there is declared convalescent he is 
M-nt here. 

A. good joke occurred one morning when oi f them was 

drafted for the front. He had Keen slightly wounded in the leg 
and was getting around with a crutch. When his ward was or- 
dered oul for < I i-;i t't he fell in with the rest, and the doctor, no1 
noticing the crutch, bul finding liis pulse and tongue all right, 
marked him us able-bodied. When Sadler inspected them, he 
aaid to this fellow: "Wha1 are you here for?" "Going to the 
front, I suppose; there is where I am ticketed for." Sadler 
laughed, and said: "I'll excuse you." Then turning to his assist- 
ant, remarked: "We are nol ye1 so hard up for men as \>< wanl 
three-legged ones." Thai assistanl looked as though he wished 
he was at home under his mother's besl bed. 

This whole hospital is under the management of a Doctor 
Fowler, and as far as I am able to judge is well and skilfully 
managed. The cuisine is excellenl and far better than could be 
expected in a place like this. The hospital fund as fasl as it 
accrues is expended for vegetables, fruits, milk, butter, cheese, 
preserves and many other things which the government is nol 
supposed to furnish. The kitchen is in two departments, one 
where are cooked and served ou1 the meats, soups, vegetables and 

>ther food for the convalescent. In the other are cooked the 
: -. -teaks, broths, beef tea and all kinds of lighl diel tor the 

•fficerg 1 wanl and the sick and wounded department. The lighl 
diel is presided over by an angel of mercy in the person of a 
.Mi^-s Dame who is the hospital matron. 

I RE( I l\ i: \N \ITo|\ IMKNT. 

\i .,i st 1. The ward nexl me on the left is a colored one. 
1 1 1 • 1 contains from 60 to 80 men. according to recruits and drafts. 

I'ntil recently they have been pretty much on their own 1 k. 

no one seeming to care for them. Some 'lays ago Doctor Sadler 
ed me if I would take charge of them. I said I should like to 
do anything where I could he of any use. He gave me nn in- 
structions and some blank reports, and set me up in business. 
M\ duties are to attend roll-calls, surgeon's calls, keep an accounl 
of arrivals, discharges, desertions, deaths, march them up to the 
kitchen three times a day for rations and make mj report to him 



My Diary. 143 

every morning. Entering on the discharge of my duties the first 
thing I did was t<> set them to work cleaning and fixing up their 
quarters, so they would be more comfortable. 

A con] ile of hours'' work showed a great improvement in the 
condition of things, and while it was being done it gave me a 
chance to find out who among them were the worst off and need- 
ed the most care and favors. A sick nigger is a curious institu- 
tion and yon can't tell so well about him as yon can about a sick 
mule. He can put on the sickest look of anything I ever saw 
and appear as though he would die in seven minutes, but a nig- 
ger is never really sick hut once, and is then sure to die. There 
is no more help for one than there is for a sick pig. I have three 
that are sick and I have no more faith in their getting well than 
I have that Gen. Lee will drive Gen. Grant from before Peters- 
burg. Two of them are now unable to attend the surgeon's call 
in the morning and the other [expect will be in a few days. I 
have about 40 hobbling around with canes, spavined, ring-boned 
and foundered. The others are simply a little war-worn and 
tired. 

The kitchen is about 30 rods from the camp, and when I 
march them up there there are so many lame ones they Straggle 
the whole distance. Doctor Sadler called my attention to this 
and said he should like to see thein march in little better order. 
I replied : "Surgeon, come out in the morning and see the parade; 
you will see them marching a l^S inch step and closed up to 18 
inches from stem to stern." lie promised he would. The next 
morning at breakfast call I formed every one of those darkies 
that carried canes on the right, ami the very lamest I put at the 
head of the column, and gave them a send-off. It was a comical 
show, they marched at the rate of about one mile an hour, and 
those in the rear kept calling out to those in advance : "Why don 
ye goo long dar! Hurry up dar; shan' get breakfas' fo' noon." 
They kept closed up a good deal better than they kept the step 
as the rear crowded the advance to push them along. We were 
cheered along the route as almost everybody was out to see the 
fun. AW- marched in review before the doctor, and by the way 
he laughed and shook himself I thought he was well satisfied 
with the parade, at any rate he complimented me on my success 
when I carried in my morning report. 

One day one of my fellows came to me for a pass to go fisli- 
ing. lie said he could catch as many hull-heads as would do us 
two for three days. [ gave him a pass, but didn't see anything 
of him again for four days. When I asked him where he had 
been so long, he looked pretty sober for a minute or two, and 
then rolling around the whites of his eyes ami showing his teeth, 
said : "Yah, yah, yah ! ize no idee ize don gon so long; yah, yah, 
yah." 



HI Mi Diary. 

\ I D < \i; I l.i: ill I : BLA< KSMITFI. 

Ai <.\ s i v . Win n I lir>t came here I was pretty well used 

up, bul thanks to my friends, Garland of c pan} C and Whee- 

lock and Aldrich of my own company (who are attaches of this 
hospital), and also to Miss Dame for their attention, kindi 
and favors, I .-mi feeling the best now I have any time this summer. 
For their sympathy, attentions and kind offices, 1 am under a 
debl of f\ erlasl ins; gratil ude. 

Within a week two of my sick men have died and another 
is East going. One of them was a character in his way. As near 
as one can guess the age of a darky I should judge he was about 
60 years old, and rather an intelligent man. He always called 
himself Ned Carter the blacksmith, and delighted in having others 
call him so. He would talk by the hour of old times, ahoul his 

old master, and the good times and g 1 cheer they used to have 

.■it Christmas time. VVhen I first took this ward I saw that Ned 
was a sic|< < larky and told him to have things lii- own wa\ ; it' he 
fell like sleeping in the morning and didn't want to come <>ut to 
roll call I would excuse him. 1 noticed thai he seldom went for 
his rations, bul would send his cup for his coffee and tea. lie 
said there was very little at the kitchen he could eat. I asked 
him whal he could eat. He said he thoughl some cracker and 
milk would taste good. I took his cup up to Miss Dame ami 
asked her it' she would give me some condensed milk and a few 
soda crackers for a sick darky. She gave them to me, and Ned 
( 'artei- t he blacksmith was happy. The convalescent camp is 
urn allowed anything from the sick kitchen, excepl by order of 
Doctor Fowler, so any little notion I gel from there is through 
tWe kindness of Miss Dame or my friend Wheelock. I have of- 
ten carried Ned a cup of tea and a slice of toast, with Jo me peach 
or some kind of jelly on it? and the poor fellow could express 
his gratitude only with hi-- tear-, lie had no words that could . 1 . > 
it. One morning after roll call I went to his little tent and called 

Ned Carter the blacksmith. I gol no response, ami thinking he 

might he asleep I looked in. Ned Carter the blacksmith was 

gone, hut the casket that had contained him la\ there stiff and 

cold. 

Till: CHRISTIAN \\i> SANITARY COMMISSIONS. 

Ai oi si 20. I have read a great deal in the papers of the 

Christian ami Sanitary commissions, of the noble and humane 
work they were doing and the immense amount of money con- 
tributed for their SUppOll by the people throughout the north and 
west. 1 have taken a great interesl in these commissions and 

have supposed they were a kind of auxiliary to the medical and 

Burgical department of the army, carrying and dispensing some 



My Diaey. 14.1 

simple medicines, pouring in the balm of gilead and binding up 
gaping wounds, giving cornforl and consolation to the sick, weary 
and distressed; but in all this, so far as my observation has gone, 
I find I have been laboring under a delusion. Since I have been 

here is the first 1 have ever seen of the workings of these com- 
missions, and I have watched them with some interest and taken 
some pains to find out about them. Here is a branch of each, 
located midway the convalescent camp and sick hospital, and I 
rind they are little else than sutler's shoos, and poor ones at that. 
These places are said to furnish without money and without price 
to the inmates of this hospital and the hoys in the trenches such 
little notions and necessities as we have been accustomed to buy 
of the sutlers, and in consequence of this no sutlers are al- 
lowed to locate anywhere in this vicinity. The hoys are not sup- 
posed to be fooling away their money to these thieving sutlers 
when our folks at home are willing to supply our little needs, free 
gratis for nothing. So when we happen to want a lemon or a 
pencil, a sheet of paper or a piece of tobacco, or whatever other 
little notion we require, all we have to do is to apply to one 
or the other commission and make known our wants; after 
answering all the questions they are pleased to ask we are given 
a slice of lemon, a half sheet of paper or a chew of tobacco. 
These are not wholesale establishments: 

Fortunately for me I have stood in very little need of any- 
thing within their gift. 1 seldom solicit any favors and those are 
granted so grudgingly 1 almost despise the gift. My iirst expe- 
rience with these institutions was one day when I was out of to- 
bacco, 1 called on the Christians and told them how I was situ- 
ated. I got a little sympathy in my misfortunes and a short lec- 
ture on the sin of young men contracting such bad habits, when 
I was handed a cigar box containing a small quantity of fine cut 
tobacco and told to take a chew. I asked them if they couldn't 
let me have a small piece that would do me for a day or two. 
"Oh, no ; that is not our way of doing business." "Will you 
sell me a piece? I would as soon buy of you as of the sutler." 
"Oh no; it is against our orders to sell anything. All there is 
here is free, it costs you nothing." lie then put up a small quan- 
tity and gave me. The next day I sent down to the Point ami 
bought some. My next call was for a pencil. 1 was handed a 
third of one. I said if that is the best you can do perhaps you 
had better keep it. He then gave me a whole one. I got out of 
writing paper and thought I would beg some. I called for it, and 
was i,dven a half sheet. I used that and went for more, and 
when I had finished my letter, I had been six times to the Chris- 
tian's. I sent down to the Point and bought some. I sometimes 
think I should like a lemon, hut there is pom- encouragement for 
calling for one, as I notice that others calling for them only get a 
thin slice of one. 

10 



1 us 



My Diari 



This i- the first place 1 ever gol into where I could neither 

buy, 81 ■ .i iiur li. •. I notice tb e a little better; they 

r quantity almost anything they call for. I soineti 

! around for an hour and watch the running of this machine 

and w onder tiiat in i his bus " re i he 

nec< lying comes in, and yet I n t this is practiced 

i >n calling for an art icle will 
ire out of it, '. hen ; he team come 

up :V >m 1 
will i I hing and get it. 

This Cliristian commissio bo be the headquarters for 

visitors. The} staj a lew days, going as near the trenches as 
the} dare to, and in the chapel tent in the evening will tell over 
their adventures and i Tvently for the boys who hold 

them. We are never short of visitors, as soon as one party •_ 
another comes, and they :ill seem to be good Christian men, tak- 
real in) eresl in thi of our souls. 

A I H \ R V( I BR. 

Among our visitors is a tall, lean, middle-aged man whom I 
know musl have seen righl sniarl of trouble. His face is snarled 
and wrinkled up in such ;i way that it resembles the face of a 
little d >g when catching wasps. Although there is no benevolent 
expression on his counl in nee. he yet lias more sympathy to the 
square inch than any other man I ever saw. He takes :i greal in- 
terest in this convalescent camp and seems to have taken it under 
his special charge. He will be in this camp all day, calling on .-ill 
hands, inquiring after their health and needs, praying with them, 
giving them sympathy and good advice. He will come round 
giving a thin slice of lemon to .-ill who will take it, and will some- 
times go through the camp with a baskel of linen and cotton rags 
an I a bottle ot cologne, sprinkling a little on a rag and give it 
to any one who will take it and at the same time will distribute 
religious tracts. Some days he will come round with a bottle of 
brand} and some small lumps of sugar, on which he will drop 
three or four drops of the brandy and give it to any one who says 
the} are troubled with bowel complaints, :it the same time telling 
them he hopes it will do 1 hem good. 

One day he came along distributing temperance tracts. He 
looked into my tent and inquired ii there were any objections to 
hi- leaving some. I replied there were no reason- known to ex- 
ist why he might not leave all he wished to. I then said: "You 
are laboring in a v< n worth} cause, but you seem to he working 
the wrong field, or as Col. Crockett used to say, barking up the 
wrong tree, for we hen- might just as well east our nets into the 
lake that burns with fire and brimstone, thinking to catch speckled 
trout as to think of getting any liquor. ifour Held of labor would 



My Diary. 147 

seem t<> be up in the officers' ward where you deal ou1 your 
liquors." The old gentleman sighed at such perverseness and 
went along. He will work this camp all day from early morning 
till night, giving every one something, and in all that time will 
not give away the value <>t' fifty cents. 

Xo\v I don't wish to casl any reflections of create any false 
impressions in regard to these commissions. I have only written 
///;/ experience and observations as to their workings in this 
convalescent camp. So far as anything that I know to the con- 
trary, they may he doing a great and humane work in the wound- 
ed and sick hospital, and I am charitable enough to allow that 
they are, hut if the whole system of it throughout the army is con- 
ducted as niggardly as I have seen it here then there must be some 
superb lying done by somebody to account for all the money that 
is being contributed for its support. 

1 REJOIN MY REGIMENT. • 

Sept. '1. About a week ago my brigade, Gen. Stannard 
commanding, left the trenches and was ordered into camp at 
Cobb's Hill; all the convalescents belonging to it were ordered to 
rejoin it. When T was about leaving, all my darkies gathered 
around me to give me their blessing and say their goodb-yes. 
They were earnest in their thanks for the kind treatment they 
had received and expressed their regrets at my leaving them. 1 
told them to be good hoys and do their duty, and thev would 
surely receive their reward. It is possible the poor devils will 
miss me, as I have been to them not only ward-master, but doc- 
tor, nurse and attendant. I think I have been very successful 
with them in the little time 1 have had charge of them, having 
lost by death only three and I think there is small chance of any 
more of them dying at present, unless they should happen to he 
•struck by lightning. 

Our brigade musters scarcely lUOl) men for duty, and in a 
few weeks will be still further reduced by the expiration of the 
terms of service of those not re-enlisting. 1 learn that in a few 
days we go to Xewhern, X. C, to relieve a full brigade which is 
ordered up here. Our old lines here are now nothing more than 
skirmish lines on either side, with a few pickets between. There 
is no firing from either side, and all is still and quiet as Sunday. 
The pickets keep up a truce between themselves, and although 
against orders, trading and communicating are carried on between 
them. I called on my old friend Lieut. MeCarter of company ]>. 
lie is now on Gen. Standard's staff, and is serving as brigade 
commissary, which eaves him a line opportunity to entertain his 
friends. It has been several months since I saw .Mac, hut he is 
the same genial, good-natured fellow as ever. Of course our 
greetings wrw cordial. He says the job is more to Ins liking 



I 18 Ml DlABT. 

than dodging Bhell al Cold Harbor, and the only disagreeable 
thing abouj it is in lugging water to make his accounts balance. 

WE LEAVE VIRGINIA. 

X i \\ been, Sept. 15. < hi the 5th of this month the 23d and 
25th Massachusetts embarked <>u the steamer Winona, from Ber- 
muda Hundred I" hum I for Newbern. The9tli Xew Jersey and 27th 
Massachusetts embarked <>n auother boal .-it the same time for the 

e destination. < >n the morning of the 6th we ran up to Ports- 
mouth, taking our camp equipage and knapsacks aboard, and ran 
back into Hampton Roads and anchored. There was a heai j storm 
blowing outside and we lay .-it our anchorage all day the 7th. < >n 
the 8th we steamed up and anchored off Fortress Monroe, bul 

n received orders to pul oul t<> sen. The captains of both boats 
objected to going, saying it was too rough to venture outside. < m 
the morning of the 9th we received peremptory orders to pull up 
our mudhooks afld start. Then ensued a sharp correspondence 
between our captain and some one in the fort, said to be Gen. 
Butler, and it certainly sounded a greal deal like him. The cap- 
tain objected to taking oul his boal on the ground thai she was 
only a light river boat and entirely unfil for an ocean trip, and be- 
sides was only chartered for the bay and rn era, and he did not feel 
like taking her oul withoul first consulting her owners al Balti- 
more. Word came back thai it made no difference aboul the 
owners or for what she was chartered, the boal was going to New- 
bern or go to pieces. In this dilemma the c:i plain sail I that the boal 
might go bul that he shouldn't take the responsibility of taking 
her out. Soon word came back that he would take her out, 
or go into the fort, wearing a hall and chain. The captain, find- 
ing himself of no more accounl than a common soldier, was obliged 
to accept the situation. Toward night our consort, which was a 
sea-going boat, led off, we following after. 

I felt a little nervous about going <>ut to sea in so frail a 
craft, and thought it rather rough thai after having gone through 
whal we had we should be taken oul to sea and drowned. I com- 
forted myself with the thought thai soldiers were not supposed to 
have any choice in the manner of their death. We found it rough 
going round Cape Henry, as there is almosl always a chop sea 
there even in mild weather. Getting around the cape, we en- 
countered heavy swells and rollers and every little while a big 
roller would strike us under the porl guard and make every tim- 
ber in the old crafl snap. I expected every minute to see the 
guard, if not the whole deck torn off. I remained awake the 

whole nighl watching Our consort, which kept jusl ahead of U8, 
and reckoned on my chance tor a swim. 

We reached Hatteras inlel early on the morning of the loth, 
and landed at Fori Spinola, on the south side of the Trent river 



My Diauv. 149 

« 

at Newbern, in the afternoon. After landing we marched up into 
the camp of the 9th Vermont — a sick, ragged, dirty, lousy crowd. 
The Vermonters gathered wonderingly around us, extending us 
every sympathy and hospitality that lay in their power. The 
old regiment wns divided off into three or tour small companies, 
one of which under command of Capt. Emery, was sent out to 
Price's creek, about a mile from here, to go into quarters and do 
some light pickel duty. We have once more gol ourselves 
cleaned up, our hair trimmed and dressed in clean, whole cloth- 
ing, and begin to look quite like ourselves again. 

We are again on our old stamping ground, hut, alas, how 
changed! Only a small remnant now remains of that grand old 
regiment that left Worcester three years ago. They till honored 
graves on half a hundred battlefields, they are inmates of every 
hospital from Boston to Newbern, and are wasting away in rebel 
prisons; a handful only remaining to tell the sad tale. In a few 
days more they will be still further decimated by a hundred or 
more whose time will be out and go home. The whole south for 
the past three years has beeu singularly exempt from the scourge 
of yellow fever, hut it has now broken out in Newbern, and is 
raging to a great extent, 30 or 40 dying daily. It has not yet 
reached the camps outside the city, and hopes are entertained 
that it will not. 

OFF Foil HOME. 

On the 5th of October, two days before the expiration of 
our term of servic \ an order came to Price's creek, ordering all 
those who were entitled to muster out to turn over to the proper 
authorities our arms and equipments and report at the railroad 
station near Fort Spinola. This was just after dinner. Capt. 
Emery sent to the pickets across the creek for all those who had 
not re-enlisted to report at quarters. In a few minutes we were 
all there ; the captain read the order and the hoys cheered. I 
was all ready to comply with the order, and bidding faithful Spit- 
tire a long and final farewell, I handed it to the captain. It was 
soon found out what was up, and for the next half hour the ene- 
my was left to take care of themselves, and all hands gathered at 
quarters to say their good-byes and see us off. We went aboard 
the cars at Fort Spinola and picked up others along the road, ar- 
riving at Morehead about dusk. There about LOO of us 
went aboard the steamer Dudley Buck, and soon after were sailing 
out the harbor of Beaufort, leaving behind us the scenes of our 
triumphs ami hardships. The next morning we were around 
Cape Lookout and out to sea. Pretty soon we saw the officers 
come up out of the cahin, t hey were talking among; themselves 
and seemed to wear a troubled look. It was soon discovered that 
there was a lot of citizens aboard coming down with yellow fever, 



150 My !>i\i:y. 

and before noon one was brought up oul of the cabin dead and 
laid in a boal thai hung on the davits. 

A \ INDIGNATION MEETING. 

The boys held an indignation meeting, declaring it was 
wrong and cruel on the pari of the government or other authori- 
ties to allow these men to come aboard, and it seemed t<> be the 
evidenl intent < > t" the governmenl or some one else to murder us. 
The} had jusl tried t<» drown us and failing in thai had dow, af- 
ter having gone through one of the most unheard of campaigns, 
and as though were too obstinate to die, would give us one inure 
chance, and Bmuggle aboard a lol of yellow fever Stricken devils 
to go home with us. The captain disclaimed all knowledge of 
how they came aboard, bul it was evidenl they were lure and 
couldn'l have go 1 here withoul the knowledge and consent of 
s »mebody. They still further declared that those citizens were of 
no earthly use tior hadn't been of any. they were simply buzzards 
who had run away from the drafl in New 5Tork, and were now 
running away from the yellow fever, and as a measure of safety 
and self-protection it was voted to throw them all overboard. 
The captain thoughl that would be most too summary a way of 
disposing of them, besides we would be liable to a charge of inn- 
tiny ami murder al sea. It certainly was uo lack of will, bul 
only our better judgment thai prevented their being thrown over- 
board. We reached Fortress Monroe on the forenoonof tin- 7th 
and were detained several hours by some quarantine regulations, 
bul were finally permitted to resumeour journey. 

IN QUARANTINE. 

<)n the morning of the 9th we sighted Sandy Hook, and on 
getting nearer we could see quite a Meet of vessels lying there. 
This was the lower quarantine. We ran through this, arriving al 
the upper quarantine al Staten Island aboul 10 a. m. We were 
now in sight of New York, and were buoyanl in hope that we 

should SOOn be there. As We lieai'ed a big steamer lying ill the 

middle of the channel we were hailed with "Steamer ahoj !" 
We slowed down and ran alongside. Some kind of an official 
came to the middle gangwaj and said ; 

•• W here are you fr< »m ?" 

"Beaufort, North Carolina." 
"Any sick ab< »ard ?" 
"1 es, sir." 

■ \nv death-'."*' 

"Yes, sir." 

"I low 1 1 1 ; 1 1 1 \ days out?" 

"Four." 



My Dnuv. 151 

"I low many deaths?" 

"Four." 

"Four deaths in four days. About ship and go back to the 
Hook." 

Our hearts that a few moments before were buoyant with 
hope now sank within us. The Hook was a cold, dreary place, 
and there was no knowing how long we should have to stay, but 
it was easy enough to know that some of us wouldn't stay there 
very long. We ran hack to the Hook, and dropped anchor, not 
far from the large hospital ship. 

After a little while we saw a gig lowered from the hospital 
ship; a man stepped in and was pulled alongside our boat; he 
climbed aboard and proved to he some kind of health officer, lie 
looked us all over and then looked over the boat. Hi' signaled a 
tug to run alongside, he hustled out those citizens, and put them 
aboard of it. He also took Samuel Champney n\ company 1), 
whom he found lying down, and took them all over to the hospi- 
tal ship. We hade Sam good-bye as he went over theside of the 
boat. We never saw him afterwards, an d 1 have since learned 
that he died there. The next morning, when the gig was seen 
coming over, the call went over the boat: "All hands on deck; 
don't be caught lying down; all out on deck!" When he came 
aboard he found us all fooling and knocking off caps. He looked 
us Over and remarked that we didn't seem to be ailing very much. 
He then looked the boat over ami not finding any down took his 
leave, but if he could have looked through the side of the boat 
he would have seen half of us down by the time he was in his 

gig. 

Capt. Denny of company K, who is in command of this de- 
tachment, and who is a genial, big-hearted man, said lie would see 
what he could do for us. lie went over to the hospital ship and 
a Utile while after we saw him on a tug going towards New 
York. I knew if there was any help for us, Capt. Denny was 
the man to do it. He is a good talker and great in diplomacy, 
and when he sets about a thing he is pretty sure to accomplish 
something. Tuesday night came but no'Deuny, and the question, 
"Where is Denny?" was oft repeated without an answer. I 
could but feel that the captain was working for us and no news 
w as 'perhaps good news. Wednesday morning, the 12th, was a 
cold, bleak, cheerless m irning, and we were growing weaker every 
hour, but all hands rallied on deck when that hospital fiend was 
seen coming. Noon came but no Denny. Where is Denny? 
What has happened to him? Can it be possible that he has de- 
serted us y we're questions that went unanswered. I said it was 
possible something may have happened to him, but 1 c<inii<>t be- 
lieve he has deserted us. lie is not that kind of a man, besides 
lie would not miss taking us into Worcester for half the wealth 



152 .Mv Diary. 

of the city, hul it' lie doil'l - : . W ■ will Bend Captain- 

Parkhursl and Emen to see whal has become of him. 

AIm. lit :! p.m. we sighted :i large tug coming through the 
narrows, and soon after it headed towards our boat. Long before 
it gol within hail we saw a man in the bow, waving his cap. It 
u.i- (apt. Denny. Deliverance bad come, and I reckon when 
that hospital doctor heard our cheers, he must have thought we 
were not very badly affected How fever. I had known 

Capt. Denny For several years before the war, bul cannot remem- 
ber a time when 1 i him as I wt>s on that afternoon. 
The tug came alongside and we were not very long transferring 
ours oard of il and it was again heading for the city. 
We ran along the starboard side of the Norwich steamer, and 
boarded her at the forward gangway, and ware hustled among the 
cotton bales and freight like so many lepers. We were not al- 
lowed abaft the forward gangway, and were not troubled with 
visitors as no one cared to see the brave defenders. But we 

I nothing about that so long as we were going towards home, 
and 1!i • MceoTum xlations were as good as we had been accustomed 
to having. 

We reached Norwich ahout - a. m. on the 13th, and went 
t'S, arriving at Worcester at (o'clock. At this 
hour Worcester people were still wrapt in the arms of Morpheus 
and of course we didn'l meet with a very enthusiastic reception. 
Our little party formed on Foster street and noiselessly wended 
our way to the City Hall. A few stragglers who were around the 

il reported our arrival and an hour after we received an invi- 
tati hi to to the depol refreshment room for lunch. This 

invitation was readily accepted and a famine was created in thai 
refreshment room somi after our entrance. We had a good 
break fasl of hoi coffee, cold meats, bread, pics, cake-, etc. After 
breakfast we returned to the hall to receive visitors, anion-- the 
fit i of whom w;is Col. Pickett, who warmly welcomed us, shak- 
ing hand- with all. We were righl glad to see our colonel, and 
learn that he was getting the better of his wounds received at 
( 'old Harl 

I !\ 8 o'clock t he hall was filled, and welcoming speeches were 
made by hi- Honor Mayor Lincoln and other-. After which it 
was pro] osed we make a parade and show ourseh es over the city. 
This wa ! to, not because we didn't wish to please our 

Worcester trends, bul because we were sick audi tired, and had 

had enough of p i id marches; our thoughts were of h e 

and we were in a hurry to g< t t here. Free tickets were furnished 
ii- on all the railroa Is, mil we were dismissed for a week or until 
out muster out. I arrived honu' a1 noon, agreeabh surprising 
ni\ family, who were no1 expecting me for a week to come. 



My Diary. 153 

On the 20th of October we again met in Worcester for mus- 
ter out, and discharge papers. I was once more a free man, hav- 
ing been under the care and keeping of others a little more than 
thirty-seven months. 

CLOSING SCENES. 

Two months later we again met in Worcester to be paid off. 
This was to be our last meeting, henceforth we should travel in 
different paths and our meetings would be only by chance if ever. 
Shaking hands and wishing each other all manner of good fortune, 
we said our good-byes and parted. I have been through it and 
have had a great experience. I shall have no regrets that I did 
not go and have brought hack no sorrowing memories. 1 have 
done what I could to preserve the union of the states. I have 
met the enemies of the country face to face, and done what I 
could to roll hack the tide of rebellion, and if I have been of any 
little service to the country, I am glad of it. With all the officers 
of the regiment my relations have always been on the most ami- 
cable footing, and I am vain enough to believe that they will all 
bear me witness that 1 have always cheerfully obeyed all their 
commands and done all the duty required of me; that I have al- 
ways treated them politely and shown them all the respect due their 
rank. In my little sports and jokes I have shown no partiality, 
and [ trust there is no one who hears any malice towards me on 
that account, t have brought from the held no resentments or 
animosities towards any, hut shall always hold in pleasing re- 
membrance all, both living and dead, with whom I have been as- 
sociated. 

Let him not boast who puts his armor on 
Like him who lays it off. his battle done. 



THE END. 



